The sudden increase in demand for Chinese fighter jets after the May 2025 aerial clash between India and Pakistan is a lesson in how modern weapons are sold. For years, Chinese fighter jets have been seen by many buyers as cheaper alternatives to Western or Russian platforms. This perception changed after Pakistan used Chinese-made J-10C fighters in combat and claimed to have shot down several Indian jets, including a French-made Rafale.
Reuters reported that U.S. officials believed a Chinese-made Pakistani plane had shot down at least two Indian military planes, while another analysis from Reuters said the destruction of a Rafale was linked to India’s poor assessment of the range of the Chinese PL-15 missile.
The impressive performance on the battlefield immediately boosted the sales of the relevant Chinese company. Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC, a subsidiary of AVIC), which manufactures the J-10 family, turnover declared for 2025 of about 75.4 billion yuan, or about $11 billion, up 15.8 percent, while profits rose 6.5 percent to 3.4 billion yuan. Its turnover for the first quarter of 2026 jumped almost 80 percentclose to double. It is impossible to prove that each new order is due to Pakistan’s performance, but the timing is too important to ignore.
In defense procurement, combat performance is the strongest advertisement. Pakistan inducted the J-10C in 2022, with Reuters describing the aircraft as a major upgrade for the Pakistan Air Force. After the clashes with India in 2025, the jet acquired the status of a battlefield tested capability.
The actual performance of the J-10C during these clashes remains disputed. India has acknowledged aircraft losses without fully detailing them, while Pakistan’s larger claims remain disputed. Reuters reported that the Indian Air Force has declared that “casualties are part of the fight” and India itself has stated that she had shot down a Pakistani plane. The truth is probably more complicated than the public discourse on either side. Yet gun markets often move based on perception before full evidence arrives.
The story of the J-10C fits into a larger picture. SIPRI data on arms transfers for 2025 showed that Pakistan became the world’s fifth largest arms importer between 2021 and 2025, with imports of military equipment increasing by 66%. China supplied at 80 percent of arms imports from Pakistan during this period. Pakistan is not only a client, but is China’s most visible defense showcase.
In June 2025, Reuters reported that Indonesia was evaluating the Chinese J-10 taking into account cost, compatibility and after-sales support. By October, AP reported that Indonesia planned to acquire at least 42 J-10C fighters, with an estimated budget of more than $9 billion. This is a serious strategic signal.
The Rafale should not be written off. It remains one of the most respected multi-role fighters in the world. Dassault Aviation presents the Rafale as a high-end platform intended for intense combat missions. In 2025, India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft. Dassault confirmed that these will join the 36 Rafales already operated by the Indian Air Force.
But reputation counts, and the loss of the Rafale is a gain for China. According to the Associated PressFrench intelligence services believe China tried to undermine Rafale sales after the Indo-Pakistani clash. Reuters reported similar allegations from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. China has rejected the claims, but the controversy itself shows how dogfighting now extends to information warfare.
The J-10C will not replace Western fighters everywhere, and buyers will continue to worry about maintenance, integration and political dependence. But after May 2025, China will be able to assert more forcefully that its planes are not only cheaper than American and European alternatives, but that they are also combat tested. That’s why CAC’s sales boom matters far beyond a single company’s bottom line: India’s clashes with Pakistan have exposed the prowess of China’s defense industry in a broader market.