By Abhijit Roy
The sterling performance of the Chinese J-10CE fighter in the three-day India-Pakistan war against the French Rafale is having both a positive and negative impact on the international fighter-jet market.
The India-Pakistan aerial engagement, which lasted over an hour, with the participation of 125 aircraft, ranks as one of the largest and longest air battles in recent aviation history, potentially the biggest since World War II.
Pakistani officials assert that their air force downed five Indian planes, including advanced models like the French Rafale using Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets armed with PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles.
African Interest
This reported success has sparked curiosity about whether African nations, many of which already operate Chinese aircraft, could now look to acquire more Chinese fighter jets to modernize their air forces, the website Military Africa says.
?”For countries seeking affordable yet effective defence solutions, this event could serve as a compelling case for considering Chinese jets over pricier Western alternatives. ?African nations are already familiar with Chinese military technology, with several operating 4th-generation aircraft from China. Nigeria, Egypt, Namibia, Sudan, Botswana, Tanzania, and Angola have either integrated Chinese jets into their fleets or expressed interest in doing so,” the website said.
Nigeria had recently strengthened its defence ties with China. The Nigerian Air Force currently operates three Chengdu JF-17 Thunder jets, a lighter multirole fighter developed jointly by China and Pakistan. Nigerian defence officials are now weighing options to either expand this fleet to a full squadron or shift to a different platform entirely. The apparent success of the J-10C in the India-Pakistan conflict could tip the scales toward acquiring more Chinese jets, Military Africa said.
Over the past decade, Beijing has deepened its economic and military ties with Africa, offering infrastructure investments, trade deals, and defence equipment at competitive prices. ?Nigeria’s case is particularly telling. The country’s military priorities have long centred on combating internal threats like insurgency and terrorism. The JF-17 Thunder, with its versatility in both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles, aligns well with these needs.
In a bid to strengthen its air defence capabilities, Nigeria has turned to China’s arms supplier Norinco for support. A delegation from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), led by Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, visited China from April 20 to 25, 2025.
Yet, the decision to acquire Chinese fighter jets isn’t easy. Integrating new aircraft into existing fleets requires compatible systems, trained personnel, and a steady supply of spare parts—areas where Chinese equipment has occasionally faced criticism compared to Western counterparts.
modernisation initiative.
During a high-profile visit to China in November 2024, Bangladesh Air Force Chief Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan reportedly expressed interest in acquiring 16 J-10CE fighters. The report also mentioned that Dhaka had evaluated Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder aircraft earlier this year, although the J-10CE remains the preferred platform due to its superior range, avionics, and multirole capability. A J-10CE also features electronic warfare suites, and compatibility with long-range PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
But observers note that Bangladesh’s decision could alter the region’s aerial power balance especially vis-à-vis and heighten tension with an already alienated India. After the ouster of its protege Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, India has turned against Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s 2022 induction of 25 J-10CE fighters was seen as a direct counter to India’s Rafale purchase. If Bangladesh joins this trend, it may deepen the China-Pakistan defence alignment in the region and place additional pressure on India’s air superiority, analysts said.
Zheng, then a researcher at the Rand Corp., wrote in a research paper.
In 2022, Myanmar had reportedly grounded its fleet of Chinese fighter jets due to structural cracks and other technical issues. Bangladesh lodged complaints with Beijing about the quality of its military hardware last year. Even the Pakistan Navy has been facing issues with its F-22P frigates, forcing them to operate the vessels with significantly degraded capabilities, Japan Times said.
“Questions about combat capabilities and other issues, including concerns about interoperability with non-Chinese platforms, have hampered China’s ability to expand exports beyond a handful of countries,” Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior associate analyst Eric Zhu wrote in a note last week.
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