At the ongoing Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025) in Malaysia, global aviation powers are showcasing their top-tier equipment.
The J-10CE fighter jet, the export variant of the J-10C, took the center stage at the Chinese booth, shortly following its remarkable debut in real combat, captivating international visitors and military analysts who were eager to observe the aircraft.
A Chinese military affairs expert told the Global Times that China’s cutting-edge equipment, represented by the J-10 series fighter jet, is profoundly reshaping the global perception of the Chinese military and China’s defense industrial capabilities, even the landscape of global defense industry.
When Western media mentions the J-10 fighter jet, they often simplistically describe it as “independently developed by China.” However, Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng explains that the significance of the J-10 fighter to the Chinese Air Force and China’s aviation industry far surpasses that of just a “domestically produced fighter.”
Through the development of the J-10, China has mastered advanced aerodynamic configuration technologies for fighter jets, achieved breakthroughs in full-authority, triaxial, quadruple-redundant, digital fly-by-wire flight control systems and propelled the development of advanced turbofan engines. For the first time, China developed a highly integrated and digital avionics system, enhancing overall combat effectiveness.
Additionally, China has established a new-generation aircraft manufacturing system characterized by digital machining, composite material construction and titanium alloy manufacturing. This has laid a solid foundation for the subsequent development of China’s fighter aircraft, Zhang told the Global Times.
At the same time, the J-10 fighter jet was independently developed by China’s aviation industry and possesses independent intellectual property rights, Zhang noted. After its successful development, the Chinese military was able to extensively equip itself with domestically produced advanced fighter jets.
This has significantly alleviated China’s security pressures and, to some extent, altered the balance of air power between China and neighbouring countries and regions, advancing preparations for military struggles. Today, the J-10 series of fighter jets continues to evolve and remains actively deployed on the front lines of training and exercises, he said.
