Singapore AirshowJ-10C fighter to appear at Singapore Airshow after Pakistan combat claims in 2025
China’s J-10C fighter jet will appear at the Singapore Airshow for the first time as part of a flying display by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force August 1st (Bayi) aerobatic team.
Chinese state-linked outlets reported that seven J-10C aircraft arrived in Singapore on January 27, accompanied by a Xian Y-20A aerial refueling tanker. The team is scheduled to perform a series of formation maneuvers during the event, including multi-aircraft flypasts and synchronized aerobatics.
The August 1st team last appeared at the Singapore Airshow in 2020, when it flew the earlier J-10A variant. The J-10C represents the most advanced version of the single-engine fighter, featuring updated avionics, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and compatibility with long-range air-to-air missiles.
The Singapore appearance follows a high-profile year for the J-10C. In May 2025, Pakistan Air Force J-10CE fighters — the export variant of the aircraft — were reportedly involved in air combat during clashes with India.
Pakistani officials claimed that J-10CE aircraft fired PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles that downed multiple Indian jets, including at least one Dassault Rafale. India has not publicly confirmed the claims, but the episode placed the Chinese-built fighter at the center of international attention.
Operationally, the J-10C is flown by both China and Pakistan. Frontline Chinese Air Force units use the domestically developed Shenyang WS-10B engine, while the August 1st aerobatic team continues to operate aircraft powered by the Russian Saturn AL-31FN engine. This configuration maintains commonality with the team’s twin-seat J-10SY trainers and avoids redesigning airshow-specific modifications, such as the enlarged dorsal spine used for smoke-generation systems.
The Singapore Airshow is not the first Southeast Asian appearance for the team’s J-10C aircraft. The August 1st team previously performed at Malaysia’s LIMA exhibition in 2023 and flew displays in Thailand in 2025.
Interest in the J-10C has also expanded beyond China and Pakistan. In late 2025, Indonesia signaled progress toward a potential acquisition of up to 42 aircraft as part of its fighter modernization plans.
The Singapore Airshow 2026 runs from February 3 to February 8 and will feature flying displays from multiple air forces and commercial operators.
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