- A Global Times report said China plans to expand military aircraft exports following what it described as the first overseas combat success of the export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet in 2025.
- The report cites AVIC official Ji Ruidong saying China should shift from exporting individual aircraft to offering integrated combat systems that include fighters, missiles, sensors and communications networks.
A report published by the Chinese newspaper Global Times says China is seeking to expand exports of military aircraft following what the publication described as the first combat success of the export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet during an overseas air battle in 2025.
The report indicates that the aircraft’s performance generated increased international attention toward Chinese aviation systems and triggered broader discussion within China’s defense industry about expanding the country’s military aviation exports.
According to the Global Times, Chinese military aircraft attracted strong interest during several international aviation exhibitions in 2025.
“At major international air shows, including the Paris Air Show, the Dubai Airshow and the Singapore Airshow, Chinese military aircraft stole the spotlight as some of the most talked-about attractions,” the newspaper reported.
The article centers on comments by Ji Ruidong, a deputy to China’s National People’s Congress and Party secretary of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which operates under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
Ji told the Global Times that the export of military aviation equipment is closely linked to national industrial development and strategic capability.
“Aviation arms trade, including military aircraft exports, serves as both a reflection of a country’s strategic capabilities and a vital sector for safeguarding national security, driving the growth of the aviation industry and competing on the global stage,” Ji said.
The report states that China’s aviation equipment has reached a level that supports further expansion into international defense markets.
“The performance of China’s aviation equipment has already reached the world’s leading ranks, laying a solid foundation for expanding the international market for China’s aviation military trade products,” Ji said.
However, Ji also acknowledged that China’s aviation export sector still faces limitations in several areas.
“At the same time, compared with the goal of building a world-class military and strong aviation power, China still faces constraints in areas such as top-level design, market development and systemic support,” he said.
The Global Times report indicates that China’s aviation industry is considering a shift in export strategy from selling individual platforms toward providing integrated operational systems.
“To bridge these gaps, the country should promote a transformation and upgrading of aviation arms trade – from simply exporting products to exporting complete systems – through comprehensive and systematic reforms and innovation,” Ji said.
The concept of exporting integrated systems reflects broader changes in modern military operations, where aircraft are designed to operate within interconnected networks that include early-warning aircraft, missile systems, and communications infrastructure.
According to the Global Times, foreign media commentary on the J-10CE’s reported combat performance suggested that the aircraft’s effectiveness was linked not only to its own capabilities but also to support from an integrated operational environment.
This environment can include radar and early-warning platforms, guided missile systems, and communications networks that allow different elements of a force to exchange data in real time.
Such integrated structures are often described as system-of-systems operations, where multiple platforms share information and coordinate actions across several domains.
Ji said that expanding aviation exports would require improved coordination between defense companies, government institutions, and the military.
“To that end, strengthening the central role of arms trade companies, optimizing industrial chain coordination, leveraging the military’s leading role, and deepening innovation-driven development and market expansion will help build a more competitive framework for China’s aviation arms trade,” he said.
The Global Times article also states that international demand for fighter aircraft and other aviation systems continues to grow as countries modernize their armed forces and seek new suppliers.
Chinese defense manufacturers have already developed several export-oriented platforms, including fighter jets, drones, and missile systems.
Aircraft such as the J-10CE and the JF-17 Thunder, developed jointly with Pakistan, have been offered to foreign buyers as alternatives to Western-produced fighter jets.
According to Ji, expanding aviation exports will require coordinated efforts across China’s defense sector.
“Promoting the high-quality development of aviation arms trade is a systematic project that requires coordinated efforts from the state, the military and enterprises,” he said.
“We should seize this critical window of opportunity to help Chinese aviation equipment achieve greater success in the international market, making new and greater contributions to building a strong nation and a strong military.”