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China’s J-10CE vs Eurofighter Typhoon: jets face off in Pakistan-Qatar air drills

  • Military bloggers in China claim the Chinese 4.5-generation aircraft outperformed its European-made rival in the Zilzal-II exercise
  • The upgraded version of the Avic-made jet has been promoted as a cheaper alternative to Western technology

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The Pakistan Air Force took delivery of its first J-10Cs in 2022. Photo: X/ @Tahirwqs
Chinese military enthusiasts are claiming a win for a Chinese-made fighter jet against a European counterpart in a military exercise between Pakistan and Qatar.
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The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fielded its Chinese-made J-10CE jets against Qatar’s Eurofighter Typhoon fighters for the first time in the Zilzal-II air exercise, which got under way in Qatar on January 10.

Chinese social media users saw the exercise as a test for the Chinese 4.5-generation fighter against a European-made jet of the same generation.

Military influencers and bloggers, in particular, celebrated an unverified claim that the J-10CE prevailed over the Typhoon in all nine drills against each other.

The J-10CE is the export variant of the J-10C, a jet made by state-owned Avic Chengdu Aircraft Industrial (Group).

Pakistan Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force personnel prepare for the Zilzal-II exercise in Qatar on January 10. Photo: X/ @DGPR_PAF
Pakistan Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force personnel prepare for the Zilzal-II exercise in Qatar on January 10. Photo: X/ @DGPR_PAF
The aircraft is at the forefront of China’s efforts to promote military exports, particularly to developing countries that are looking for cheaper alternatives to Western weapons.
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