BAKU — State-owned defense conglomerate Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has displayed a full-scale mockup of the Chengdu J-10CE 4.5-generation multirole fighter jet featuring official Azerbaijan Air Force (Azerbaycan Hava Qüvvələri) markings at the 6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2026) in Baku. The presentation highlights expanding Chinese defense marketing in the South Caucasus and underscores Baku’s active evaluation of high-performance tactical fighter options to modernize its combat aircraft inventory alongside recent acquisitions of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex / AVIC JF-17 Block III fighters.
The J-10CE represents the export variant of the PLAAF’s frontline J-10C “Vigorous Dragon,” featuring a single-engine, canard-delta aerodynamic layout engineered for high agility, supersonic performance, and relaxed static stability. Fitted with a modern glass cockpit, an indigenous Shenyang WS-10B/C Taihang turbofan engine, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and an integrated electronic warfare suite, the J-10CE provides multi-target beyond-visual-range (BVR) air dominance and precision air-to-ground strike capabilities.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: AVIC / CHENGDU J-10CE VIGOROUS DRAGON
* System Classification: 4.5-Generation Multirole Combat Aircraft / Export Air Superiority Fighter
* Prime Contractor & Designer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) / AVIC (People’s Republic of China)
* Exhibition Context: ADEX 2026 (6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition, Baku Expo Center)
* Configuration Displayed: Full-scale mock-up bearing official Azerbaijan Air Force roundels and serial markings
* Dimensions & Mass Parameters:
* Overall Length: 16.9 meters (55 ft 5 in)
* Wingspan: 9.8 meters (32 ft 2 in)
* Overall Height: 5.7 meters (18 ft 8 in)
* Gross Take-Off Weight: ~14,000 kg (~30,865 lbs)
* Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW): ~19,270 kg (~42,500 lbs)
* Powerplant Architecture:
* Engine Type: 1x Shenyang WS-10B/C Taihang afterburning turbofan
* Thrust Output: ~89.2 kN dry / 142–145 kN with afterburner (~32,000+ lbf)
* Flight Performance Envelope:
* Maximum Speed: Mach 1.8+ (high altitude)
* Operational Range: 1,850 km (internal fuel)
* Ferry Range: 2,950 km with 3x external drop tanks
* Service Ceiling: 17,000 meters (55,700 feet)
* Design Load Factor Limits: +9.0 g / -3.0 g
* Sensors, Avionics & EW Architecture:
* Primary Fire Control Radar: CETC / AVIC KLJ-7A Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar
* Optronics & Targeting: Nose-mounted Electro-Optical / Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor + Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) system
* Electronic Warfare: Integrated internal digital EW countermeasure suite, Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), and missile approach warning sensors
* Armament Suite (11 Hardpoints; Up to 5,600 kg Payload Capacity):
* Air-to-Air Ordnance: PL-15E (export active radar BVR missile; ~145 km range), PL-10E (high-off-boresight IR-homing missile)
* Air-to-Ground & Anti-Ship: KD-88 land-attack cruise missiles, YJ-91 anti-radiation missiles, YJ-83K anti-ship missiles, and GB/FT-series satellite/laser-guided precision bombs
* Gun Armament: 1x 23 mm GSh-23 twin-barrel internal cannon
