Uzbekistan shifts military allegiance with Chinese jet deal
As reported by Bulgarian Military, the Uzbek authorities have reached an agreement with China regarding the purchase of fighter jets. This is yet another recent indication of the deepening military partnership between these countries. At the same time, it signifies Uzbekistan's shift away from Russia, which had offered the Su-30SM.
For years, Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have almost exclusively armed themselves with Russian weapons. However, in recent months, a new trend has emerged—the acquisition of armaments from China. Both mentioned countries have already acquired Chinese HQ-17AE air defence systems, and Uzbekistan is going even further. Thanks to a new agreement, it will significantly "refresh" its fleet of fighter jets.
Uzbekistan turns to Chinese fighter jets
The combat aircraft chosen by the Uzbek authorities is the J-35A. A recording has been published on social media showing Uzbek pilots training to operate this machine.
The J-35A is one of the latest fighters developed in China, which was unveiled publicly at the Airshow China in 2024. It is a 5th generation aircraft (the second such in China's history, after the J-20) featuring stealth technology. It is a single-seat, twin-engine, multi-role fighter capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2 (approximately 2,090 km/h). It is often referred to as China's answer to the American F-35.
A significant change in Uzbekistan’s aviation, which is based on post-Soviet aircraft
As noted by Bulgarian Military, acquiring the J-35A will be a very significant reinforcement for Uzbekistan's air forces, which currently rely on Russian, or rather older, Soviet fighter jets. The most valuable of these are the Su-27 and MiG-29.
Both the Su-27 and MiG-29 are 4th generation aircraft, introduced into service in the 1980s. The Su-27 is a twin-engine heavy fighter (weighing about 16,000 kg) designed for air superiority. The lighter MiG-29 (weighing approximately 10,000 kg) is a front-line fighter. The maximum speed of both these aircraft is Mach 2.3 (around 2,447 km/h), with the Su-27 achieving it only at high altitudes.
Earlier reports of the Uzbek authorities' interest in newer fighter jets suggested the possibility of acquiring the Russian Su-30SM, which ultimately lost out to the Chinese competitor. According to Bulgarian Military, the choice of the J-35A is the result of a pragmatic approach dictated by the cost and availability of the aircraft and spare parts, as well as changing geopolitical realities.
