Iran’s Air Force chief was spotted inspecting the Chinese J-10C, a 4.5th-generation aircraft, during a visit to the ongoing Zhuhai Air Show, sparking speculations that Tehran may be interested in acquiring the aircraft.

Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi visited the Air Show on November 12 and, as reported by the Chinese media, got a first-hand experience of China’s J-10CE fighter jet.

According to reports, Vahedi assessed the capabilities of the J-10C Vigorous Dragon. General Vahedi also met with his Chinese counterpart, General Chang Dingqiu, to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the two services.

While Iran’s leadership has not expressly communicated its willingness to acquire a Chinese combat aircraft, the Iranian Air Force Commander’s inspection of the J-10C has piqued the interest of military observers. Some of whom observed that the aircraft was a viable option for the Iranian Air Force in terms of capability and price.

Publishing the photograph of the visit by the Iranian Commander, a popular Iranian news media outlet ‘Iran Observer’ wrote on the social media site X (formerly Twitter): “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.”

The outlet did not reveal whether Iran had initiated talks with China regarding a potential purchase.

Moreover, neither China nor Iran has commented on speculations regarding Tehran’s potential acquisition of J-10C at the time of writing this report. Earlier this year, there were rumors that Iran was in talks with Beijing to acquire the JF-17 Block III aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China. However, they died down soon after.

Engaged in protracted hostilities with regional adversaries like Israel, Iran’s inferior air power has become its Achilles heel. While it has developed deadly drones and ballistic missiles, it continues to fall short when it comes to fighter jets.

Earlier, Iran was expected to get as many as 24 Russian Su-35 Flanker-E in exchange for drones and ballistic missiles delivered to Moscow for its war against Ukraine. However, more than a year after these reports first emerged, Iran has yet to receive the delivery of the Russian combat aircraft.

With Russia’s Su-35 elusive, Iran’s only other option is a capable Chinese fighter jet. In fact, some reports in 2021 suggested that Iran was interested in buying 36 J-10C as a barter for its oil and natural gas, but China was reluctant to sell the fighter jet to Iran for fear of US sanctions. China’s reticence was also attributed to Iran’s inability to pay in cash.

The latest speculations about Iran’s interest in the J-10C follow reports hinting that the Egyptian Air Force could acquire the J-10C instead of upgrading its fleet of aging F-16 fighters. If Cairo goes ahead with the deal, it will become the second foreign operator of the aircraft after Pakistan.

China has been actively targeting the Middle East market to export its aircraft, positioning the J-10C as a superior alternative for the French Rafale, the European Eurofighter Typhoon, and the US F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The Chinese aircraft cost just $40-50 million per unit, making them an attractive option for countries looking to upgrade their fleets without draining the state purse.

Chinese J-10C Vs U.S. F-16 

The J-10C is frequently likened to upgraded US F-16 Fighting Falcon variants. Like the F-16, its fly-by-wire flight control system uses a computer to maintain its extremely agile, aerodynamically unstable airframe.

The J-10C has an indigenous AESA radar, imaging infrared seeker (IIR) PL-10, WS-10B engine, and PL-15 air-to-air missiles. It features state-of-the-art capabilities, including electronic warfare, computerized glass cockpit instruments, precise air-to-ground strike, beyond-visual-range combat, and in-flight refueling.

The aircraft is capable of all-weather operations. Its primary role is air-to-air combat, but it can also perform strike missions. Chinese experts have hailed the aircraft as a game changer for combat, often citing its improved sensors and weapons for visual and beyond-visual-range engagements and its reduced radar signature as a hedge over its global rivals.

The Chinese multirole fighter also has a forward-looking infrared and laser target designator pod. This pod was created to facilitate the use of weapons guided by satellite navigation and lasers.

Earlier this year, a video published by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) showed a very rare refueling of seven J-10C Fighter jets by a single YY-20 refueling aircraft in a stunning display of PLAAF’s might. The J-10C aircraft were on their way to participate in the World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia.

Amid China’s concerted efforts to export the jet, the Iranian Commander’s visit to inspect the J-10C has definitely piqued the interest of defense experts globally, who will be keenly watching Tehran’s next step.

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