CHENGDU/SHENZHEN - The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the state-owned manufacturer of the J-10CE fighter jet, released an official documentary-style video on Thursday, the first anniversary of the India-Pakistan conflict, celebrating the aircraft's combat performance and praising Pakistan's air force for its successful use of Chinese-made equipment against Indian forces .
MASSIVE: Chinese Cooks Indians 🔥🇵🇰🇨🇳
- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) May 8, 2026
Chinese J-10CE manufacturer officially posted a video of J-10CE on its channel on the first anniversary of the India–Pakistan war. PAF shot down 8 Indian jets using J-10C.
On the anniversary of OP Bunyan un Marsoos, China praised Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/GqfoWsLyTs
The video, aired on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, features interviews with Chinese engineers who provided on-site technical support to the Pakistan Air Force during the May 2025 conflict known in Pakistan as Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. According to official Chinese and Pakistani accounts, PAF pilots flying J-10CE fighters shot down eight Indian aircraft-including four Rafale jets-without losing a single Chinese-made fighter .
'We Nurtured It, We Cared for It'
Speaking in the documentary, Xu Da, an engineer from AVIC's Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, compared the J-10CE to a "child" entrusted to Pakistan.
"We nurtured it, cared for it, and finally handed it over to the user. And now, it was facing a major test," Xu told CCTV. "As for the outstanding results the J-10CE achieved, we weren't very surprised, and it didn't feel sudden at all. In fact, it felt inevitable. The aircraft just needed the right opportunity. And when that moment came, it delivered exactly as we knew it would" .
Another engineer, Zhang Heng, described the conditions at his Pakistani support base during the conflict, where temperatures approached 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).
"At the support base, we frequently heard the roar of fighter jets taking off and the constant wail of air-raid sirens," Zhang said. "It was a real ordeal for us, both mentally and physically" .
Official Chinese Confirmation of Wartime Support
The CCTV documentary marked the first time China has officially confirmed that its personnel provided direct technical assistance to Pakistan during an active war with India . Chinese engineers worked alongside Pakistani ground crews at frontline airbases to ensure the J-10CE fleet remained operational throughout the 88-hour conflict.
Chinese analysts have noted that the wartime support was unprecedented, with AVIC technicians helping to maintain advanced avionics, engine systems, and weapon integration on the J-10CE platform .
The Battle Scoreline
According to the documentary and supporting Pakistani military statements, the J-10CE fighter jets-operating under the guidance of ZDK-03 airborne early warning aircraft-launched PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles to intercept Indian aircraft at ranges exceeding 200 kilometers .
The confirmed kills include:
Four Dassault Rafale jets (French-made, India's most advanced fighter)
Two Sukhoi Su-30MKI jets
One MiG-29 UPG
One Mirage 2000
'First Victory in a Real Battle'
On May 17, 2025, just days after the ceasefire, CCTV had already claimed that the J-10CE "achieved its first victory in a real battle in recent days, shooting down a handful of foreign jets without losing one in conflict" . Thursday's anniversary documentary expands on that initial claim, providing detailed accounts from the engineers who witnessed the operations firsthand.
China Praises Pakistan
Throughout the documentary, Chinese officials and engineers praised the professionalism and bravery of PAF pilots and ground crews.
Former Indian Air Force commanders publicly conceded that the IAF faced "tactical handicaps" during the conflict, with one retired Indian Air Marshal admitting that "losses are a part of combat" .
A senior Pakistani military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the J-10CE's performance "ended the myth of Rafale superiority once and for all."
Symbolic Timing
The documentary was released on May 7, 2026-exactly one year after Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor, the cross-border strikes that triggered Pakistan's counter-offensive . The symbolic timing was clearly intentional, with Chinese state media framing the release as a tribute to the "deep bond formed through working side by side, day in and day out" .
The Defense Industrial Partnership
Pakistan remains the only foreign operator of the J-10CE, having purchased approximately 36 aircraft along with 250 PL-15 missiles in 2020 . Between 80 to 90 percent of Pakistan's arms imports come from China, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute .
The JF-17 Thunder, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, continues to serve as the backbone of the PAF, though the J-10CE is now widely regarded as the service's elite frontline platform.
Global Implications
Western military analysts have noted that the J-10CE's combat success has significant implications for the global fighter market, with potential buyers including Egypt, Bangladesh, and Iran now reportedly showing increased interest in the Chinese platform . At an estimated $40 million per unit-roughly one-sixth the cost of a Rafale-the J-10CE offers competitive performance at a fraction of the price.
Looking Ahead
The documentary concludes with the Chinese engineers reaffirming their commitment to supporting Pakistan's air force into the future. Total domestic production of the J-10C series-including full localization of the WS-10B "Taihang" engine-has now been achieved, ensuring that supply chains remain secure regardless of international sanctions or export controls .
As the one-year anniversary of the conflict concludes, the message from Chengdu to Islamabad appears clear: the partnership that delivered air superiority in 2025 will continue to define South Asian air power for decades to come.
