Uzbekistan evaluates purchase of 24 Chinese J-10CE fighter jets

Uzbekistan is assessing a deal to acquire 24 Chengdu J-10CE multirole fighter aircraft from China. The procurement would modernise an air force that still relies heavily on Soviet‑era MiG‑29 and Su‑27 jets and would lessen dependence on Russian spare parts, maintenance and training. Reports say the negotiations are advanced, with pilot training already taking place in China and deliveries potentially staged over several years, though neither Tashkent nor Beijing have issued a confirmed contract. Analysts view the possible purchase as part of Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to diversify its defence suppliers and as a sign of China’s growing role as a defence exporter in Central Asia, potentially shifting the regional military balance away from traditional Russian dominance.