Uzbekistan Orders 24 Chinese J-10C Fighter Jets With Israeli Lavi Design Roots

Uzbekistan is set to acquire 24 Chinese J-10C fighter jets, according to Uzbek television and reported by the Jerusalem Post. This acquisition would make Uzbekistan the second foreign customer for the aircraft, following Pakistan. The J-10C bears significant resemblance to the Lavi, a fighter jet developed by Israel Aerospace Industries in the 1980s. Israel ultimately canceled the Lavi program in 1988 due to its substantial cost.

Foreign reports cited by the Israeli newspaper suggest that China obtained Lavi plans to expedite the development of its own fourth-generation fighter and modernize its air force. Beijing has never officially confirmed this technological link. The J-10C is a multirole aircraft featuring advanced radar systems and capable of carrying the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile.

Marketed internationally as a more affordable alternative to the U.S. F-16, the J-10C is particularly attractive to nations unable or unwilling to purchase American aircraft. The Chinese fighter is believed to have been deployed in aerial clashes between Pakistan and India, with some claims of it downing Indian Rafale jets, though the specifics of these engagements remain debated.

The Uzbek order highlights China's expanding influence in Central Asia, a region traditionally dominated by Russia politically, economically, and militarily. Uzbekistan, a predominantly Muslim nation with diplomatic ties to Israel, is enhancing its air power with a jet whose design may be partly derived from a former Israeli program. Bangladesh is also reportedly considering the J-10C, indicating Beijing's growing ambitions in the global fighter jet market.