Tehran is strengthening its air capabilities with Chinese J-10C jets, competitors to the F-35, amid heightened regional military tensions.
A strategic decision after the military test of May 2025
The announcement of Iran’s acquisition of Chinese J-10C fighter jets, reported on July 1, 2025, on the X network by sources close to the Tehran government, marks a major shift in Iran’s military posture. This transfer of equipment comes less than two months after the end of the 12-day war, a direct confrontation with Israel that severely tested Iran’s air defenses.
The delivery of these fighter jets, designed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, confirms the Islamic Republic’s growing integration into the Sino-Russian military-technical axis. Iran had been seeking for several years to modernize its aging fleet of MiG-29s, F-4s, and F-14s, all of which were in limited service. The J-10C offers a compromise between air superiority capabilities, versatility, and reasonable cost.
According to several independent sources, between 24 and 36 units are involved, at an estimated unit cost of €65 million, including training, initial maintenance, and a batch of ammunition. This amount is still lower than that of a Rafale (€110 million) or an F-35A (approximately €90 million), while offering full integration of active AESA sensors, data links, electronic warfare, and medium-range air-to-air missiles.
The contract was signed directly between the Iranian Ministry of Defense and the Chinese manufacturer AVIC, within a bilateral framework that excludes any UN supervision. This move confirms Tehran’s desire to circumvent international regulations while strengthening its offensive air capability.
A Chinese fighter jet technically suited to Iranian needs
The J-10C, the latest version of the J-10 program, is designed for multi-role missions with priorities given to air defense and long-range interception. It is equipped with an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, probably based on KLJ-7A technology, capable of detecting a 5 m² target at a distance of over 200 kilometers. This radar performance gives Iran the ability to intercept enemy aircraft in regional deterrence scenarios, particularly in the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.
The Chinese fighter has a single-engine airframe equipped with a WS-10B, a Chinese-made engine equivalent in thrust to a GE F110. It provides 13,200 kilograms of thrust in afterburner, offering a thrust-to-weight ratio close to 1 at full load. Its maximum speed reaches Mach 2.2 at high altitude.
The J-10C can carry up to 6 tons of ammunition, distributed over 11 hardpoints. It is compatible with PL-10 (short-range infrared guidance) and PL-15 (active radar guidance, range greater than 180 km) missiles, two weapons considered competitive with the AIM-120D and Meteor. Its electronic warfare suite includes an active jamming system and an electromagnetic threat detector coupled with AESA radar, giving it a certain degree of survivability in contested environments.
In the Iranian context, this type of combat aircraft offers an effective air response capability against Israeli incursions or Western MALE drone patrols. The country’s topography, marked by long distances between strategic points, requires an autonomous aircraft with a long range and resistance to electronic jamming.
A consolidated Sino-Iranian military alliance
Beyond the technical aspect, this acquisition is part of growing military cooperation between Beijing and Tehran. In 2021, the two countries signed a 25-year strategic agreement covering energy, technology, and military cooperation. The aerospace component is now taking shape with equipment transfers, training, and, according to some sources, a partial local assembly project in Isfahan or Mehrabad.
This delivery reinforces the message to the Gulf states and Israel that Iran remains capable of maintaining regional military parity, even under sanctions. Beijing, for its part, is positioning itself as a reliable alternative supplier, capable of circumventing US control mechanisms.
The joint Chinese-Iranian exercises in the Sea of Oman in March 2025 had already paved the way for this type of collaboration. The acquisition of the J-10C could be followed in the medium term by the delivery of Wing Loong II tactical drones, or even a KJ-500 airborne radar to complete the operational air picture.
Beijing also has a strategic interest in this: each sale to Tehran provides leverage to test its military platforms in real conditions against Western aircraft (F-16, F-15, F-35) operating in neighboring countries. For the Chinese military, the Middle East theater is an indirect testing ground, providing valuable feedback on its equipment.
A shifting regional air balance
The strengthening of Iran’s air force through the acquisition of the J-10C is changing the operational balance in the Middle East. Israel, equipped with 36 F-35I Adirs, retains technological superiority, particularly in stealth, tactical networking, and deep strike capability. However, the J-10C introduces a saturation factor: in sufficient numbers, these aircraft could complicate Israeli planning by multiplying the threat axes.
Furthermore, this acquisition comes at a time when India and the United Arab Emirates have also ordered or upgraded their fighter aircraft fleets. The Indian and French Rafales, although technically advanced, are not systematically deployed for offensive interception. The arrival of the J-10C in Iran, combined with the Shahed and Mohajer attack drones, gives the Iranian military new strategic depth, based on a combination of manned aircraft and autonomous platforms.
Israel may be forced to revise its rules of engagement in Syrian or Iraqi airspace to avoid direct confrontation with a Chinese aircraft with a low radar signature and equipped with long-range missiles. The question of interoperability between Israeli systems and those of its Arab allies in the face of a now Sino-Russian air force is also raised.
Finally, this development could influence US policy in the region. Washington could increase its sales of fighter jets to Gulf allies or relaunch certain armed drone programs to balance tactical capabilities.
A confirmed strategic shift
The delivery of the J-10C to Iran is not a simple commercial transaction. It reflects a clear shift towards an East-oriented military architecture, bypassing NATO standards and strengthening Tehran’s tactical autonomy. In the medium term, this shift could continue with the adoption of Chinese guided munitions, HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, or a C4ISR system linked to ground forces.
Iran is strengthening its doctrine of asymmetric deterrence, already evident in its combined use of drones, ballistic missiles, and cyber operations. The acquisition of a modern Chinese fighter jet, interoperable with these assets, allows Tehran to consider A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial) operations on its borders or in the Strait of Hormuz.
The choice of the J-10C is based on a rational analysis: controlled cost, rapid availability, possible technology transfer, and autonomy from Western restrictions. This model is set to become a cornerstone of Iran’s air defense for the decade 2025-2035.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.