The Chinese-made J-10CE fighter plane has gained fame during the recent air combat between India and Pakistan. CCTV released several videos confirming that the French-made Rafale fighter was shot down, with wreckage discovered near a village close to an Indian airbase. Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Defense maintained a low profile regarding this matter and called for both countries to remain calm.

The videos showcase the results of the J-10CE, including missile racks from the Rafale fighter turned into scrap metal and remnants of the MICA air-to-air missile falling to the ground. This incident occurred on May 7, after intense air battles erupted between India and Pakistan, with India refusing to confirm whether the Pakistani Air Force actually shot down the Rafale fighter.

CCTV also displayed wreckage marked with the identifier BS 001, which corresponds to the tail number of India’s first single-seat Rafale fighter acquired from France. Chinese military experts analyzed that this air combat represents the largest scale between India and Pakistan since 2019, with both sides engaging in beyond-visual-range encounters within their respective controlled airspaces.

Despite the J-10CE achieving notoriety in this air battle, the Chinese Ministry of Defense remained discreet during a routine press conference on the 30th, expressing hope for calm restraint from both India and Pakistan. One of the key designers of the J-10CE, Wang Haifeng, recently gave a lecture at a university detailing the development history of the J-10 series of fighters as well as the stealthy J-20 fighter. After the lecture, hundreds of students lined up with J-10C models to get Wang's autograph, showcasing the topic's ongoing appeal.