Uzbekistan confirmed as second foreign operator of China’s J-10CE fighter
Uzbekistan’s defence ministry released official footage of the fighters on Sunday, which was also broadcast on state television
Reports previously suggested that Uzbekistan had ordered 24 J-10CEs, although neither country confirmed the deal.
However, at least six of the jets were shown in footage released by the Uzbek president’s office on Friday as part of the country’s independence day celebrations.
The footage showed the Uzbek air force warplanes sitting on the runway, flying in formation and receiving a water-cannon salute, a ceremony that is traditionally used to mark significant arrivals.
Uzbekistan’s defence ministry released an official video of the fighters later on Sunday, which was also broadcast by state television, describing them as “modern fighter aircraft guarding our air borders”.
Chinese military aviation specialist Andreas Rupprecht said it was significant that Uzbekistan had become the second confirmed foreign operator of the J-10CE because the country had traditionally sourced its military equipment almost exclusively from Russia.
“This demonstrates that China is gradually making inroads into markets with hi-tech systems,” he said, including sectors previously dominated by Russia.