Uzbekistan is reportedly considering a major modernization of its air force with the potential purchase of 24 Chinese J-10CE multirole fighter jets.

The reported plan would mark a significant upgrade of Uzbekistan’s military aviation capabilities, with the J-10CE, an export variant of China’s J-10C, regarded as an advanced 4++ generation multirole fighter, The Caspian Post reports via avia.pro.

A potential deal could also signal Uzbekistan’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian aviation platforms and diversify its sources of military equipment.

If the agreement goes ahead, China could significantly expand its military-technical and defense-industrial presence in Central Asia, potentially increasing competition with Russian defense manufacturers in the regional market.

At the same time, Uzbekistan is expected to maintain security cooperation with Russia, reflecting its long-standing multi-vector foreign policy and efforts to balance relations with major international partners.

The reported fighter jet purchase could therefore represent not only a major modernization step for Uzbekistan’s air force, but also a potentially important shift in the military balance and defense partnerships across Central Asia.