A two-year-old mock dogfight has suddenly become one of the most talked-about stories in military aviation circles this year. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV recently confirmed what had circulated as a rumor for months: that the Chengdu J-10CE, the export version of China’s J-10CE fighter, went a perfect nine-for-nine against Eurofighter Typhoon jets in simulated air combat exercises.
The South China Morning Post reported that during the 2024 “Zilzal-II” joint air exercises, Chinese J-10CE fighters posted a perfect 9-0 record against Qatari Eurofighter Typhoons in simulated air engagements, both in close-range dogfights and beyond-visual-range (BVR) scenarios.
Chengdu J-10 Fighter Jet. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Chinese J-10 fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Media outlets from various Gulf countries confirmed the results of the one-sided aerial engagements that took place in Qatar in 2024.
Military Watch Magazine posted that “Qatar operates some of the world’s few Tranche 3A or Tranche 4 variants, which are significantly more advanced than those fielded by the European partner states that developed the aircraft, and integrate the new Captor-E active electronically scanned array radar.”
Chinese media left out the specifics, but outlets in Pakistan quickly filled the gaps. Pakistani media reported that the mock battles took place during the “Zilzal-II” joint air exercise in Qatar in January 2024, in which Pakistan’s J-10CE fighters defeated Eurofighter Typhoons belonging to Qatar’s air force.
Multiple outlets have since added texture to the claim, reporting that the J-10CE reportedly prevailed in all five close-range dogfights and all four beyond-visual-range engagements during the exercise
This was a massive setback for the Eurofighter, which has been steadily losing ground in aviation sales to the US-built F-35 on the continent.
Meet The J-10CE “Vigorous Dragon”
The Chengdu J-10CE “Vigorous Dragon” (NATO code-named “Firebird”) is a 4.5-generation medium-weight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft with a delta-wing design, AESA radar, and a diverse weapons array.
Eurofighter Typhoon. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Eurofighter Typhoon. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
With 11 hardpoints, it carries air-to-air, anti-ship, and air-to-surface missiles, as well as laser-guided bombs. China designed and built it.
The J-10C is powered by a WS-10B afterburning turbofan engine, producing roughly 130–144 kN of thrust with afterburner. The engine powers the aircraft to a top speed of Mach 2.0 (1,319 mph at altitude).
The J-10CE “Vigorous Dragon” Is Being Vigorously Exported
The Chengdu J-10CE is being aggressively exported to the Middle East and being sold to Bangladesh and Pakistan, with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria being interested. Iran is also reportedly interested, calling it a rival with better performance than the F-16.
Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi met with his Chinese counterpart, General Chang Dingqiu, to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the two services while discussing the J-10’s capabilities.
A government-controlled Iranian news media outlet called ‘Iran Observer’ wrote on the social media site X: “With a price tag of $40 million, 100 J-10s will cost $4 billion. The J-10s are better than the F-16s in terms of weapons and flight performance.”
F-16 Fighter in a Elephant Walk. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
China offered it to Brazil, but the Brazilian government declined. It should be noted that China’s offer of the J-10CE is not just about exporting fighter jets—it’s about extending its influence into Latin America’s defense sector.
The J-10CE’s Capabilities
The J-10CE (export version) integrates advanced avionics, weaponry, and stealth features, marking a significant upgrade over its predecessors in the J-10 family.
At the core of the J-10CE’s design is its aerodynamic configuration, featuring a delta wing and canard layout.
This design choice enhances maneuverability and control at high angles of attack, making the aircraft highly agile in dogfights. The airframe incorporates composite materials to reduce weight and radar cross-section, contributing to its semi-stealth capabilities.
It looks remarkably like the F-16, except for the canards. And we all know China’s penchant for industrial appropriation; their espionage is well known and considered a typical modus operandi for them.
The J-10CE has added the KLJ-10 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which aims to improve detection and targeting in heavily jammed environments.
The J-10CE’s powerplant is the Russian-made AL-31FN; it is now transitioning to the domestically produced WS-10B turbofan engine. Both options provide a thrust-to-weight ratio that supports the aircraft’s agility and allows it to easily achieve supersonic speeds of Mach 1.8.
The WS-10B is especially noted for its reliability and performance improvements, including increased thrust and reduced maintenance needs compared to the Russian powerplant.
The J-10C’s Armaments
With 11 external hardpoints, the aircraft can carry a variety of weapons. Air-to-air missiles include the Chinese-made Python PL-8 and the Russian-made Vympel R-73 or R-77. The J-10 can also carry anti-ship missiles. Plus, air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs.
The J-10C also uses the PL-15 (Thunderbolt-15), an advanced Chinese active-radar-guided, very long-range, beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
Developed by the China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA), it features a dual-pulse solid-rocket motor and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, enabling it to strike targets at ranges of 200–300 km at speeds exceeding Mach 5.
Airforce-Technology.com wrote, “The aircraft can be fitted with a forward-looking infrared and laser target designator pod, which supports deployment of laser and satellite navigation guided weapons.”
Military aviation analysts believe that, given the aircraft’s success against the Eurofighter Typhoons and the very positive general reviews, it could lead many countries in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East to become interested in purchasing the J-10C.
Why the Story Is Spreading Now
The exercise itself is old news; it happened in early 2024, but its resurfacing in 2026 has taken on new significance.
China’s defense-industry oversight body formally recognized the achievement as one of its “Top 10 Achievements” for 2025, described the J-10CE as having downed enemy aircraft in actual combat conditions, and asserted that the U.S. Department of Defense had independently verified aspects of the episode.
J-10 Fighter. Image: Creative Commons.
That last claim in particular has not been corroborated by any U.S. government statement and should be treated with skepticism until an official source confirms it.
Reasons for Caution
Several outlets have pushed back hard against treating a 9-0 scoreline as definitive proof of anything.
As one analysis put it, exercises are inherently imperfect measures of real combat capability; they take place in controlled, curated environments, and their scores rarely translate cleanly into real-world performance.
One example of that is the now-famous shootdown of an F-22 Raptor in a controlled exercise.
F-22 at Lakeland, Florida Air Show in April. Image Credit: Harry J. Kazianis.
The same piece notes that the more important question isn’t whether China’s claim is accurate, but what conclusions can reasonably be drawn either way.
There’s also a matter of motive. Qatar’s fleet has reportedly not been a showcase of the type’s best form: one report notes that Qatar has reportedly tried to sell off its Eurofighters only a few years after they arrived.
That detail matters, since a fleet the operating nation is looking to offload isn’t necessarily flown, maintained, or postured the same way a frontline European Eurofighter squadron would be.
China Has Milked The Marketing Angle
Whatever actually happened over Qatari skies in January 2024, China has clearly recognized the propaganda value of the result.
Commentators note China is treating the outcome as a calling card for prospective arms buyers, a challenge aimed squarely at Western, Russian, and European export markets.
That’s consistent with a broader pattern: Chinese and Pakistani state-linked media have also promoted a separate claim that J-10Cs performed well against Rafale fighters, and have highlighted J-16 performance in older joint exercises with Pakistan, all part of a wider effort to market Chinese-made combat aircraft on the international stage.
The Bottom Line: China’s Marketing Is Growing
The headline claim — a clean 9-0 sweep of a respected Western fighter — makes for a striking talking point, and it’s easy to see why it has generated so much attention two years after the fact.
But mock exercises are shaped by rules of engagement, aircraft configurations, pilot experience, and scoring conventions that outsiders rarely get to examine.
Neither Qatar nor the aircraft manufacturers involved have offered an independent account of what happened, and claims of U.S. verification remain unconfirmed.
For now, the story says as much about China’s growing confidence in marketing its defense exports as it does about any settled judgment on how the J-10C stacks up against the Eurofighter in a real fight.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
