Reports in Pakistani media suggested the simulated encounters were carried out during the “Zilzal-II” joint air exercise held in Qatar in January 2024. According to those reports, Pakistan Air Force J-10CE fighter jets faced Qatar’s Eurofighter Typhoons in a series of mock aerial engagements and emerged undefeated.
The coverage claimed the Chinese-made aircraft secured victories in all five close-range dogfights, while also winning four beyond-visual-range combat scenarios. Media outlets across several Gulf countries later published reports that appeared to align with the results recently referenced by China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
Developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation beginning in the 1980s, the J-10 was designed as a single-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft intended to strengthen China’s domestic air combat capabilities.
China introduced the upgraded J-10C fighter in 2017, marking a major step forward in the country’s military aviation programme. Classified as a 4.5-generation combat aircraft, the jet quickly became one of the leading products of China’s defence sector, the South China Morning Post writes.
The aircraft features improved engines, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system and advanced air-to-air weaponry, including the PL-10 and PL-15 missile systems. Beijing later launched the export-oriented J-10CE variant, which entered the international market in 2020 as China sought to expand its presence in global arms sales.
Meanwhile, the Eurofighter Typhoon was jointly developed by Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain during the 1980s and officially entered operational service across several European air forces in 2007. According to Pakistani media, Qatar operates the more advanced Tranche 3A version of the Eurofighter Typhoon. Analysts said the reported exercise results offered a rare glimpse into the combat performance of China’s J-10C fighter platform.
US defence publication Military Watch noted that the disclosure by CCTV underscored the growing maturity of China’s fourth-generation fighter technology. The outlet also argued that the reported outcome of the drills could further weaken the Eurofighter Typhoon’s position on the global arms market, particularly at a time when several operators, including countries involved in developing the aircraft, are gradually reducing their dependence on the jet.
Military analysts said the reported results of the simulated air battles could improve the international appeal of China’s J-10CE fighter jet and strengthen its export prospects. At the same time, experts noted that geopolitical considerations may still make some countries cautious about purchasing Chinese military equipment, despite the aircraft’s reported performance.
Analysts believe the fighter is most likely to attract interest from buyers in regions such as Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, where governments are increasingly looking to diversify their defence suppliers and modernise their air forces at lower costs compared to many Western alternatives.
The latest claims surrounding the J-10CE come about a year after the fighter’s reported debut in real combat conditions. In May 2025, Pakistan said its Chinese-made fighter jets had downed several Indian aircraft during aerial clashes, including at least one French-built Rafale fighter.
If confirmed, the incident would represent the first known air-to-air victory achieved by a Chinese fighter jet in active combat, as well as the first reported combat loss involving a Rafale aircraft. Pakistan remains the only foreign country publicly known to operate the J-10C series, alongside China itself.
Bojan Stojkovski is a freelance journalist based in Skopje, North Macedonia, covering foreign policy and technology for more than a decade. His work has appeared in Foreign Policy, ZDNet, and Nature.
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