Uzbekistan has publicly confirmed the arrival of Chinese Chengdu J-10CE fighter jets, making it the second confirmed foreign operator of the type after Pakistan. State television footage aired during Independence Day coverage showed at least six aircraft in Uzbek markings at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, including jets seen flying, landing and parked on the ground.
The aircraft were first visible in footage aired on 28 August and were later picked up by international defence media. One airframe was identified with tail number 1014, while other reported serials included 1011, 1017, 1020, 1023 and 1026. The display suggests the first operational introduction of a Chinese fighter platform into Central Asia, in a region long supplied by Russian combat aircraft.
The scale of the purchase remains unclear. Reporting has pointed to a possible order of up to 24 aircraft, but Uzbekistan and China have not released a formal contract statement, and details on price, weapons, training and support remain unconfirmed. The delivery nonetheless gives Tashkent a more modern beyond-visual-range air combat capability and broadens Beijing’s footprint in the regional defence market.