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J-10CE Fighter Mock-Up Debuts at Azerbaijan Defense Expo, Riding Combat Record to Boost Export Appeal
Reporter 欧亚时报编辑部
China's AVIC-built J-10CE fighter jet was publicly displayed at the sixth Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2026) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The booth featured a full-scale mock-up of the J-10CE — the export variant of China's J-10C fighter — painted in Azerbaijani Air Force markings. The display is seen as a significant step in China's push to expand its arms-export footprint across the Gulf, Central Asia and the Caucasus, building on the jet's recent combat record.
ADEX, hosted by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence Industry, ran from September 30 to October 2, 2026 at the Baku Expo Center and was the largest edition since the event began, drawing 277 companies from 30 countries. It was held alongside the "Securex Caspian" security exhibition. The show covered defense equipment, command-control and intelligence systems, unmanned combat platforms and cybersecurity technology, attracting military delegations and defense contractors from numerous countries seeking cooperation.
The full-scale J-10CE model presented by AVIC drew particular attention. The single-engine, canard-delta fighter is known for strong maneuverability and supersonic performance, and is fitted with a glass cockpit, a domestically produced WS-10B/C "Taihang" turbofan engine, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and an integrated electronic-warfare suite, giving it beyond-visual-range air-combat and precision ground-strike capability. Displayed alongside the model were the PL-15E beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, the PL-10E short-range missile, and an external fuel tank, emphasizing its long-range detection and engagement capability. The model's Azerbaijani Air Force paint scheme quickly fueled speculation over whether Azerbaijan has already ordered, or is about to order, the aircraft.
Reports indicate that alongside the J-10CE model, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), representing AVIC, also displayed the L-15A "Falcon" advanced trainer, the Y-20 transport aircraft, the Z-20 helicopter and the Wing Loong series of unmanned combat drones — marking CATIC's first-ever participation in ADEX. Notably, Azerbaijan's air force has already acquired a later variant of the JF-17 "Thunder" fighter — the jointly developed and produced JF-17B/C — from Pakistan, meaning Chinese-made fighters have already entered Azerbaijan's military inventory through the JF-17 program. Some military observers have interpreted the J-10CE mock-up's Azerbaijani Air Force paint scheme as a bid by China to build on its existing JF-17 cooperation and pitch the more advanced J-10CE as a further step up.
According to the Global Times, which cited Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe, the J-10CE's appearance in Azerbaijani markings may reflect growing interest from Baku and could pave the way for a future procurement agreement — but there is currently no official evidence that Azerbaijan has placed a firm order. As of now, neither Chinese authorities nor Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence Industry have confirmed any specific purchase contract.
The J-10CE's rising international profile is closely tied to its combat performance during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict. The Pakistan Air Force's J-10C jets, reportedly paired with PL-15-series missiles, were said to have shot down Indian Air Force Rafale fighters during the clash. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told parliament that Pakistan had downed three Indian Rafales; US and French intelligence sources partially corroborated the loss of at least one or two Rafales — the first combat loss of the type since it entered service — although India has denied losing any aircraft. The episode is widely seen as having transformed global perceptions of Chinese-made weapons' battlefield performance, substantially boosting the J-10C/J-10CE's bargaining power and brand credibility in the international arms market.
Pakistan remains the J-10CE's first overseas operator and the only country to have used it in actual combat. Uzbekistan is believed to be the second confirmed buyer, reportedly ordering around 24 jets. Indonesia is said to be evaluating a proposal for 42 J-10CEs, while Bangladesh is reportedly negotiating a roughly $2.2 billion deal for 20 aircraft. Egypt, Iran, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Sudan have also reportedly shown varying degrees of interest, and Brazil at one point proposed trading access to a satellite launch site for J-10CE jets.
The J-10C/CE has also appeared more frequently at multinational joint military exercises in recent years. For example, at the Falcon Strike multinational joint air exercise held earlier in 2026, Chinese J-10C jets flew alongside and were tested against Royal Thai Air Force Gripen fighters, seen as further evidence of the type's rising frequency of participation in international military exchanges. Data published over the years by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has also shown China consistently ranking among the world's top five arms exporters, and the combat and multinational-exercise exposure accumulated by the J-10C/CE is widely viewed as an important factor reinforcing China's overall standing in the global arms trade.
Analysts note that Azerbaijan's air force still relies mainly on aging Soviet/Russian-made MiG-29s and Su-25s, and its Ministry of Defence Industry has been pushing to diversify and localize its equipment base in recent years, while deepening defense-industrial cooperation with Turkey and Israel. Since the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia, Azerbaijan's push to modernize its air power has intensified, opening a competitive window for arms exporters including China. Through regional defense expos such as ADEX, China has continued to pitch mainstay export fighters like the J-10CE and the JF-17 "Thunder" to countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia, aiming to capture a larger share of a market traditionally dominated by Russia, France and the United States.
Overall, the J-10CE's appearance at the Baku defense expo encapsulates China's recent arms-export strategy: building international credibility through real combat performance, then using international defense exhibitions to showcase customized paint schemes and matching weapon systems to specific prospective buyers, laying the groundwork for subsequent commercial negotiations. Whether Azerbaijan will ultimately purchase the J-10CE remains to be seen, but the display already signals that this Chinese export fighter is further expanding its potential market footprint — from South and Southeast Asia to the Caucasus and Latin America.
