China claims J-10CE fighter jets defeated Eurofighters 9-0 in mock battles

The Chinese fighter jet features improved engines, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system and advanced air-to-air weaponry

Reported battlefield success boosts profile of China’s J-10CE fighter. Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China 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.

J-10C a cornerstone of the China’s modern air force 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.

Latest J-10CE performance may attract new international buyers 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.

politico.com
By Josh Gerstein and Jacob Wendler
05/25/2026

An American journalist and political commentator who has lived in China for more than a decade is facing a criminal charge in the U.S. of acting as an agent for the Chinese government.

Thomas Pauken II allegedly prepared confidential reports that his Chinese handler told him were being conveyed to Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to an affidavit FBI Special Agent Timothy Healy submitted in federal court. Pauken also took a lie detector test at the request of his Chinese contact and provided a cell phone and laptop to another individual in the U.S. who was seeking a job in the Trump administration, Healy wrote.

Pauken said he consistently rebuffed his handler’s requests for classified information, but told the FBI that he thought there was an 80 percent chance that the other individual he was helping to put his handler in contact with would provide classified information to China, despite what Pauken said were his warnings not to do so, the affidavit says.

The individual Pauken reached out to, who is not named in public court papers, “was not hired for the exact job he wanted in the administration but currently works for a U.S. government agency,” Healy wrote. Pauken was arrested by the FBI in February and has been in custody since. In March, a federal magistrate judge in Alexandria, Virginia, denied Pauken’s bid for pretrial release, court records show.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema has set a “pre-indictment plea hearing” Friday for Pauken. Such a hearing usually signals a defendant’s plan to offer a guilty to some charge or charges, typically in an agreement with prosecutors. Prosecutors told the court last month that they’d had “productive discussions” with Pauken’s counsel about a resolution of the case.

“It’s critical to understand that Mr. Pauken is not charged with spying or mishandling classified information,” Charles Burnham, Pauken’s attorney, said in a statement Monday. “The government’s complaint charges that Mr. Pauken did professional work for a foreign government without first completing certain required paperwork. We look forward to responding to the government’s allegations in court.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Alexandria declined to comment.

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