Chinese J-10C Jet Capable of Defeating Stealth Fighters: CCTV Documentary

A Chinese military documentary claims that the domestically produced J-10C fighter jet can defeat stealth aircraft during combat exercises, highlighting the role of networked warfare in the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

The claim appears in Gong Jian (Forging Ahead), a five-part series that began airing Friday on China Central Television (CCTV) to mark the 98th anniversary of the PLA's founding.

In a segment on a mock air battle involving multiple fighter types and support aircraft, J-10C pilot Major Xiao Nan recalled being unable to detect an "incoming threat" during the drill. Based on radar behavior, Xiao concluded the aircraft was a stealth jet and fired an air-to-air missile with a dummy warhead. The missile lost its target, but Xiao received targeting data from other J-10Cs and early-warning planes in the area.

With coordinated support, the missile re-acquired the stealth aircraft and was deemed to have successfully hit it.

“This has become the first time for us, the J-10C pilots, to defeat a stealth jet in an exercise,” Xiao said. “With the support of a comprehensive support system, the J-10C still has a lot of potential that we can tap.”

Developed by state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the J-10C is a multirole, supersonic fighter jet designed for short- and medium-range air dominance and strike missions. It is the latest variant in the J-10 family and first appeared publicly in 2017. Its export version, the J-10CE, is in service with the Pakistan Air Force.