11 September 2025

Meet the J-10C: China’s Combat-Proven, Dassault Rafale-Killing Fighter Plane

Jack Buckby

Key Points and Summary – China’s J-10C fighter is emerging as a “turnkey” solution for arming nations outside the Western orbit.

-The jet’s watershed moment came in May 2025, when Pakistani J-10Cs successfully shot down multiple Indian, French-made Rafale fighters

-This combat success proved that Chinese hardware can defeat advanced Western technology, making it a highly attractive export.

Now, after showcasing the jet at its recent Victory Day parade to potential clients from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Beijing is in renewed talks to sell the J-10C to Iran, signaling China’s growing role as an arsenal for the anti-Western world.

J-10C: Beijing’s “Turnkey” Solution for Arming America’s Adversaries

China’s Chengdu J-10 fighter is truly a milestone in Beijing’s long road towards achieving aerospace self-sufficiency.

It’s the country’s first truly indigenous multirole fighter and a decisive break from decades of reliance on foreign technology – particularly the Soviet-derived designs that had long defined earlier Chinese jets.

Its development has compelled the Chinese aerospace industry to master advanced systems, including fly-by-wire controls, composite materials, and modern avionics integration.

That work in itself has proven valuable in terms of simply producing the J-10.

Still, it also paved the way for later projects like the stealth J-20 – as well as the completely unmanned stealth drone, known only as Type B, that was seen at the September 3 Victory Day parade in Beijing.

Why the J-10C Matters

No comments: