Uzbekistan confirmed as second foreign operator of China’s J-10CE fighter

Uzbekistan confirmed that it has become the second foreign country to acquire the J-10CE fighter, as Beijing makes inroads into a Central Asian market previously dominated by Russian warplanes.

Reports had previously suggested Uzbekistan had ordered 24 J-10CEs, although neither country has confirmed the deal.

However, at least six of the jets were shown in footage released by the Uzbek president’s office on Friday as part of the country’s independence day celebrations.

The footage showed the...