China is rapidly increasing its influence in the global fighter aircraft market, leveraging competitive prices, flexible financing options and almost no political restrictions.
Despite the fact that it still lags behind dominant players such as the United States, France and Russia, and remains far from achieving full market dominance, China is positioning itself increasingly well to emerge as a major exporter of fighter aircraft and other military aircraft.
Concern in the United States
This is highlighted in the annual report of the United States Department of Defense to Congress on China’s military, published on 23 December 2025, which states that Beijing is actively promoting three of its advanced fighter aircraft for export.
According to the Pentagon report, China was the fourth largest arms supplier in the world, relying primarily on state organizations such as the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and the North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) for its exports, as of December 2024.
“Arms transfers are an element of China’s foreign policy and complement assistance and initiatives that fall under the Belt and Road Initiative,” the report states.
China possesses some of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world, including two stealth aircraft, the J-20 and J-35. It also operates the most powerful Flanker in the world, the J-16, and the indigenous J-10 series of multirole fighters.
In addition, it is already flying two sixth generation fighter prototypes, known as the J-36 and J-50, while continuing to invest in stealth technologies, hypersonic speed and advanced electronic warfare systems.
Despite its advanced fighters, China’s fighter exports remain limited, while drone exports have achieved enormous success, reinforcing China’s strategic profile in countries seeking cheap and reliable solutions without political restrictions.
The Pentagon reports that China offers three fighters for export, the fifth generation FC-31, the fourth generation J-10C and the jointly produced with Pakistan JF-17.
In addition, it has supplied Caihong and Wing Loong attack UAVs to Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates.
Offering alternatives
The potential sale of the FC-31 to Pakistan received widespread global coverage. A senior Pakistani official stated earlier this year that China will soon begin supplying the Shenyang FC-31 “Gyrfalcon” to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), while PAF pilots are already training in China.
However, the Pakistani Ministry of Defense denied in July 2025 that an agreement had been reached.
As for the J-10C, China has delivered approximately 20 of the 36 purchased by Pakistan. The JF-17, jointly produced with Pakistan, has been sold to Azerbaijan, Myanmar and Nigeria, while negotiations for a possible sale to Iraq were underway in 2024.
China offers affordable, advanced aircraft with rapid delivery and without political restrictions, such as CAATSA.
Strategically, China has targeted countries affected by sanctions or restrictions on arms purchases, such as Iran and Egypt, where there is strong demand for capable and immediately available aircraft.
China is attempting to position the J-10C as an alternative to the American F-16, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the French Rafale, highlighting lower prices, flexible financing, rapid delivery and the absence of political conditions as its main advantages.
Each J-10C unit costs approximately 40–50 million dollars, compared to 90–100 million for equivalent Western fighters.
In addition, China is promoting the J-35 and FC-31 as stealth options for countries that cannot acquire American stealth aircraft or face export restrictions.
This places it in direct confrontation with the United States and France, particularly in markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
China’s strategy appears to be the combined use of technology, low cost and geopolitical flexibility in order to establish itself as the primary alternative supplier of fighter aircraft outside the West, gradually undermining the traditional dominance of the United States, France and Russia in high demand markets.
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