China’s J-10C Jets Deemed Low Quality; Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Serbia Cancel Orders

Summary

In August 2024, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced a $3 billion defense deal to purchase 12 French-made Rafale fighter jets, marking a strategic shift for Serbia away from Chinese-made J-10C jets, despite Serbia's close ties with China. The deal signals Serbia's military pivot toward Europe, aligning with its EU ambitions. This decision sparked disappointment in China, which views Serbia as a key ally. Additionally, China has struggled to secure fighter jet orders internationally, facing setbacks in markets like Saudi Arabia and Thailand due to concerns over engine reliability and limited payload capacities.

Takeaways

• 🇫🇷 French President Emmanuel Macron visited Belgrade on August 19th.
• 🤝 Serbia signed a $3 billion deal with France to purchase 12 Rafale fighter jets.
• 🛩️ The Rafale jets will replace Serbia's aging Russian-made MiG-29 and MiG-21 aircraft.
• 🇨🇳 China is disappointed as Serbia chose the Rafale jets over the Chinese J-10C fighter jets.
• 🇷🇺 Serbia is moving away from its traditional reliance on Russian-made military equipment.
• 🇪🇺 Serbia's purchase of Rafale jets is seen as a shift towards closer ties with the European Union.
• 📉 China has faced difficulties securing international buyers for its J-10C jets despite offering competitive prices.
• 🇷🇸 Serbia, while traditionally pro-China and pro-Russia, is seeking to balance relations with the EU.
• 🇷🇸 Serbia remains the only European country not to impose sanctions on Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
• 🛡️ The Rafale deal reflects Serbia's strategic military realignment and a possible move towards further cooperation with European nations.

Q & A

What is the significance of Serbia's decision to purchase French-made Rafale jets?

Serbia's purchase of 12 Rafale jets from France marks a strategic shift away from its reliance on Russian military equipment. It is seen as an effort to strengthen ties with the European Union, especially as Serbia continues its bid for EU membership.

Why did Serbia choose Rafale jets over China’s J-10C fighter jets?

Serbia opted for the Rafale jets despite the J-10C being significantly cheaper because of the Rafale's superior payload capacity, reliability, and combat experience. The choice also suggests a political decision to align more closely with Europe, particularly France, which is a key EU member.

What impact did Serbia's decision have on China?

China was disappointed by Serbia's decision to choose the Rafale jets, as Serbia is seen as a close ally. Chinese media and citizens expressed frustration, especially since China has struggled to secure international buyers for its J-10C jets.

What is the role of the Rafale fighter jet in global military operations?

The Rafale is a highly maneuverable, multi-role fighter jet used in air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea missions. It has proven its effectiveness in various conflicts, including airstrikes in Libya, the Afghan Civil War, and operations against ISIS.

How has China fared in selling its J-10C fighter jets globally?

China has faced difficulties in securing international orders for its J-10C jets, with Serbia being the latest disappointment. The J-10C has reliability issues, especially with its engines, and has only found a buyer in Pakistan.

Why has China struggled to compete with Western fighter jets in the international market?

Chinese fighter jets, like the J-10C, have been criticized for engine reliability, limited payload capacity, and lack of after-sales services. These issues, combined with China's relatively new presence in the arms export market, make it hard for Chinese jets to compete with Western alternatives.

What are the political implications of Serbia's purchase of Rafale jets?

Serbia's decision is seen as an effort to distance itself from Russia and China while moving closer to the EU. The deal is also viewed as a way to gain support from France for Serbia’s EU accession process.

How does Serbia’s relationship with China affect its military decisions?

Although Serbia has strong ties with China, especially through the Belt and Road Initiative, its decision to purchase French jets over Chinese ones indicates a shift in its defense strategy, possibly motivated by a desire to align more with Europe.

What are the technical differences between the J-10C and Rafale jets?

The J-10C, while cheaper, is less reliable in terms of engine performance and payload capacity. The Rafale, on the other hand, is more versatile, has a higher payload capacity, and has proven its capabilities in real combat scenarios.

What are the broader geopolitical implications of Serbia's military shift toward European equipment?

Serbia's shift toward European military equipment, like the Rafale jets, could lead to stronger political and military ties with EU nations. This shift may reduce Serbia's reliance on Russia and China, aligning its defense strategy more closely with European standards.

Outlines

00:00

✈️ Serbia Signs Major Defense Deal with France

On August 19th, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a significant $3 billion defense contract for Serbia to purchase 12 French-made Rafale fighter jets. This strategic move, marking a shift from Serbian reliance on Russian military aircraft, was celebrated by Macron but disappointed China, as Serbia rejected Chinese J10C jets in favor of the Rafales. The deal signifies Serbia's growing military alignment with the EU and a possible cooling of relations with traditional allies, Russia and China.

05:02

⚔️ The Political Implications of Serbia’s Rafale Deal

Serbia's choice to purchase French Rafale jets over Chinese J10C models could have broader political ramifications. Traditionally aligned with Russia and China, Serbia’s move may signal a shift toward European Union (EU) integration, particularly as France, a key EU member, supports Serbia's EU accession. The Rafale deal may indicate Serbia’s intention to balance its historical ties with Russia and China while strengthening its relationships with EU countries.

10:03

💥 Challenges Faced by Chinese Fighter Jets

Chinese fighter jets, including the J10C, face numerous challenges in securing international orders due to concerns over engine reliability, limited payload capacity, and a lack of combat experience. Despite offering a lower price, Chinese jets struggle to compete with Western alternatives like the Rafale or F-16, and potential buyers often opt for jets with better track records and more reliable after-sale service.

15:04

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Chooses French Jets Over Chinese Options

Despite rumors of Saudi Arabia potentially purchasing Chinese J10C jets, the country ultimately opted to buy 54 French Rafale fighter jets. This decision highlights the difficulties Chinese military equipment faces in gaining a foothold in the Middle Eastern arms market, especially as Saudi Arabia continues to prioritize higher-end Western-made systems.

Keywords

💡Rafale fighter jets

The Rafale is a twin-engine, delta-wing, multi-role fighter aircraft developed by France's Dassault Aviation. In the video, Serbia's decision to purchase 12 Rafale jets from France, instead of China's J10C, marks a strategic military shift, strengthening ties with the EU and distancing itself from Russia and China. The Rafale is praised for its maneuverability and combat effectiveness, seen as a key asset for Serbia's military modernization.

💡J10C fighter jets

The J10C is a Chinese single-engine, multi-role fighter jet developed by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation. The video mentions Serbia's rejection of these jets despite a lower cost compared to the Rafale. China's J10C has struggled to find international buyers, which impacts China’s global military influence. The jet's limitations in payload capacity and engine reliability are highlighted as reasons for its lack of success.

💡Serbia

Serbia is a Balkan nation that plays a key role in this video, particularly in terms of its defense deals and international alliances. Historically aligned with Russia and China, Serbia's decision to purchase Rafale jets signifies a shift towards Europe and potentially its ambitions for EU membership. The nation's relationship with Kosovo and its complex geopolitical stance are central themes.

💡China-Serbia relations

China and Serbia have a long-standing relationship, bolstered by China's Belt and Road Initiative and Serbia's support for the One China policy. However, the video emphasizes the strain on these ties following Serbia's choice to purchase Rafale jets from France instead of China's J10C. This decision disappointed Chinese citizens and highlights the challenges China faces in securing military contracts globally.

💡Kosovo

Kosovo is a disputed territory in the Balkans that declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia does not recognize it. This ongoing conflict is a key obstacle to Serbia's EU accession. The video references how Serbia's diplomatic and military choices, including the Rafale purchase, might influence its relations with the EU and its stance on Kosovo.

💡EU membership

Serbia's application for EU membership, which has been stalled due to its stance on Kosovo and concerns over democracy and the rule of law, is a central theme in the video. The Rafale deal is seen as a move to garner EU support, particularly from France, signaling Serbia's intent to align more closely with Europe, despite its historical ties to Russia and China.

💡France-Serbia defense deal

This refers to Serbia's $3 billion deal with France to purchase 12 Rafale fighter jets, signaling a strategic shift towards the EU and away from its traditional allies, Russia and China. President Macron hailed this deal as a significant geopolitical shift for Serbia, enhancing military cooperation between the two nations.

💡Chinese military exports

The video explores China’s struggles with military exports, especially fighter jets like the J10C. It highlights how China’s aircraft face challenges in the global market due to reliability issues and competition from Western manufacturers. Failed deals with Serbia, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia are cited as examples of China’s limited success in this arena.

💡One China policy

The One China policy is a key aspect of China’s foreign relations, insisting that Taiwan is part of China. Serbia supports this policy, which has historically aligned it with Beijing. However, the Rafale jet purchase hints at Serbia's shifting foreign policy, potentially moving away from its close ties with China.

💡Saudi Arabia-China relations

Saudi Arabia's military and trade relations with China are mentioned in the video, particularly in the context of failed arms deals. While Saudi Arabia has strong economic ties with China, it continues to prefer Western arms, like the Rafale fighter jets, over Chinese alternatives. The video highlights the complexity of these relationships, emphasizing how China’s defense industry struggles to compete with Western counterparts.

Highlights

Serbia signed a $3 billion contract to purchase 12 French-made Rafale fighter jets, marking a shift in its defense strategy.

The Rafale jets deal includes 9 single-seat and 3 twin-seat jets, with deliveries scheduled for 2029.

The Rafale jets will replace Serbia's aging Russian-made MiG-29 and MiG-21 aircraft.

This is China's third failed attempt to secure an international order for its J-10C fighter jets after setbacks in Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

Chinese social media reacted with disappointment and criticism after Serbia chose the Rafale jets over the cheaper J-10C.

China's J-10C is reportedly four times cheaper than the Rafale but faces challenges in payload capacity, engine reliability, and combat experience.

Serbia is seen as one of China's closest allies in Europe, alongside Pakistan, yet it still opted for the French Rafale over China's J-10C.

Serbia actively supports China's Belt and Road Initiative and adheres to the One China policy, yet its decision to purchase the Rafale is viewed as a political shift.

The Royal United Services Institute noted that China has improved in air power technologies but still faces significant issues in engine reliability.

The decision to buy French jets may be a strategic move for Serbia as it seeks to strengthen ties with the European Union.

China has been attempting to enter the arms export market, but uncertainties in after-sale services, maintenance, and reliability have hindered progress.

President Macron reiterated his support for Serbia's EU accession during his visit to Belgrade.

Chinese authorities have struggled to sell J-10C jets due to engine performance issues, especially in terms of power sustainability and fuel efficiency.

Serbia's decision to buy Rafale jets is seen as a political shift, moving away from traditional ties with Russia and China.

Saudi Arabia has also opted for French Rafale jets over Chinese fighter jets, reflecting China’s ongoing difficulties in securing military contracts.

Transcripts

on August 19th French president Emanuel

macron visited belgrad where Serbian

President Alexander VC announced a major

defense deal Serbia has signed a

contract to purchase 12 french-made

Rafel fighter jets a move macron hailed

as a strategic shift for the balcon

nation the deal was worth $3 billion

which means each Rafel jet costs around

$250 million us it includes nine single

seat and three twin seat Jets which will

be delivered in 2029 these new Jets will

replace Serbia's aging russian-made

mig29 and mig21 aircraft this marks the

third failed attempt by China to secure

an international order for its j10c

fighter jets following previous setbacks

in Saudi Arabia and Thailand the news

was disappointing for the Chinese

government and angered Chinese citizens

in China Serbia is seen as one of its

closest allies along side Pakistan which

is often called iron brother Serbia too

is known as iron Serbia among Chinese

citizens currently the only foreign

buyer of China's J10 Jets is Pakistan

which has ordered 36 jets with about 10

already delivered the Chinese government

has been confident that Serbia would

purchase the

j10c located on the balcon peninsula

Serbia is considered one of the most

pro-china countries in Eastern Europe it

has actively supported China's belt and

Road initiative and in 2022 vage visited

China and signed a free trade agreement

with Beijing after China's president Xi

Jinping visited France in May 2024 he

also visited Serbia Serbia welcomed Xi

Jinping in exchange for his support on

the kovo issue since the kovo war ended

in 1999 kovo has operated as an

independent entity although Serbia has

not recognized its independence treating

it as one of its two autonomous

provinces as of 2023 104 out of the 193

UN member states have recognized Kosovo

sovereignty in the European Union 22 of

the 27 member states have recognized

Kosovo China has constantly refused to

recognize kosovo's Independence viewing

it as part of Serbia in return Serbia

adheres to the one China policy

recognizing Taiwan as an integrated part

of China besides purchasing weapons from

Russia Serbia also Imports chinese-made

military equipment recently it acquired

the hq17 AE close-range air defense

system fk3 medium to long range air

defense missiles and CH 92a drones from

China earlier reports indicate that

China had prompted the j10c fighter jets

to Serbia through various channels

offering variable pricing despite these

efforts Serbia ultimately chose the

French Rafel Jets over the chin Chinese

offer Chinese social media featured

articles criticizing iron Serbia

questioning how Serbia could choose the

Rafal over the j10c which is reportedly

four times cheaper one article argued

that $3 billion could have bought over

50 j10c Jets expressing surprise at vu's

decision China's J10 is a single engine

fighter jet developed as a counterpart

to the American F-16 it was deployed in

2005 and has similar size and takeoff

weight to the F16 j10c is an upgraded

version introduced in 2018 equipped with

modern electronic systems including

anactive electronically scanned array

radar Korean media analysis indicates

that the j10c when compared to the F16

and the Rafel falls short in payload

capacity and engine reliability it also

lacks combat experience despite its low

price of around 60 million only only a

quarter of what is competitors cost the

j10c has had trouble finding buyers the

Royal United Service Institute a British

Think Tank stated that China is catching

up to and even surpassing Russia in air

power Technologies including fighter jet

development however media commentator

hang Chong sha noted in the Live program

94 needs complaints that while China's

Modern Electric equipment surpasses

Russia's its engines have significant

reliability issues and leg behind

Russian standards former Air Force

Deputy Commander Jang yanting also

identified three structural issues

hindering Chinese military aircraft

sales one economic Reliance on China and

security Reliance on the US create a

difficult dichotomy second Chinese

aircraft are state-owned and lack

competitiveness with uncertainties in

after sale Services maintenance and

repairs and thirdly China is new to the

arms export market and challenges in

production lines structures and engines

are still unresolved the Rafel developed

by Fran's Des salt Aviation is a twin

engine deltawing highly maneuverable

multi-roll fighter jet it has been the

main export fighter jet to countries

like India Egypt and Qatar though a

smaller aircraft the Rafal excels in

payload capacity and maneuverability

capable of air to a air to ground and

air to see missions it has proven its

Effectiveness in real Combat

including air strikes in Libya the

Afghan Civil War and operations against

Isis media analysis indicates that

Serbia's decision to choose the Rafal

over the j10c may carry political

implications despite his traditionally

pro-china and pro Russia stance Serbia

applied for EU membership in 2009 but

progress has been hindered by the kovo

conflict and concerns about democracy

and the rule of law in this light

selecting the Rafal is viewed as an

effort to win support from France a key

EU member president vuic told agents

France press that nearly all of Serbia's

reconnaissance aircraft and fighter jets

are Russian made we need to move forward

and change our habits to prepare our

military he said adding that this

represents Serbia's military shift

toward the EU and may lead to further

cooperation with European nations serban

Think Tank scholar Milan ovich told

Europe one that this move has political

significance as it distances Serbia from

Russia some commentators considered the

Rafal purchase contract sensitive given

Serbia's traditional ties with Russia

and China while it continues to pursue

EU membership despite Russia's invasion

of Ukraine Serbia has maintained

friendly relations with Moscow and

Remains the only European country that

has not imposed sanctions on Russia this

has raised concerns that Serbia might be

playing a diplomatic double game however

France's geopolitical benefits from the

deal French Secretary of State for

European Affairs Gan Noel Barrett told

French media that if France does not

replace Serbia's russian-made military

aircraft with the Rael this Enclave

within the EU will become a Gateway for

authoritarian regimes like Russia and

China to disrupt the European continent

president macron reiterated his support

for Serbia's EU accession saying that

Serbia has a special place in the EU

it is understood that France has made

specific demands on Serbia normalizing

relations with Kosovo and advancing in

democracy and the rule of law which are

both major obstacles to EU membership

China has few International allies and

even in countries friendly to China it

has repeatedly failed to secure fighter

jet orders since 2015 China and Thailand

have conducted joint Air Force exercises

with China introducing the J10 c's for

these exercises years ago as Thailand

upgraded its military equipment and plan

to replace its aging American-made f-16s

from the 1980s China recommended the

lowcost j10c to Thailand reports

indicate that Thailand's 47 f-16s have

an average age of 34 years and urgently

needed replacement the th Air Force

initially wanted to purchase the

americanmade f-35a but abandoned the

idea due to high costs eventually the US

Department of Defense and Lockheed

Martin announced they were temporarily

not considering selling the f-35a to

Thailand the Thai Air Force then

considered the f16v the Swedish j39 EF

and the Chinese J10 CE analysts suggest

that the J10 CE may offer similar

performance to the

f16v and a lower unit price compared to

the

j39

EF however opting for the J10 CE would

mean additional expenses for China's

pl15 air-to-air missiles as well as

export Focus data link and early Warning

Systems driving up the overall cost in

contrast the f-16v and j39 EF come with

compatible equipment causing the j10c to

lose its cost advantage and ultimately

be ruled out by the tha Air Force in

July the Thai Air Force chose the

relatively cheaper j39 EF with

compatible equipment reaching an

agreement with Sweden's

sabab Chinese authorities have missed

out on a major military deal with

Thailand resulting in both embarrassment

for Beijing and anger among Chinese

citizens 10-cent military columnist

crazy Warfare show analyzed that while

the Thai Air Force did not select

chinese-made weapons this time it might

still consider purchasing Chinese

military equipment in the future under a

neutral policy the analyst suggested

that the pla's j3e fighter jets could

potentially enter the time Market though

the lower tier j10c seems to have little

chance Chinese fighter jets face

numerous challenges on the global stage

with the biggest issue being the

performance and reliability of the jet

engines specifically the ws10 despite

improvements in power output these

engines still suffer from problems with

power sustainability and fuel efficiency

the J10 C's limited payload capacity of

under 6 tons is another concern a

multi-roll fighter jet must be capable

of carrying various weapons but the J10

C's restricted payload limits its

versatility also its short operational

range is further hampered by the lack of

external fuel tanks a Pakistani Air

Force pilot who has flown the F-15 F16

and j10c stated in a military magazine

the radar detection capability is good

and maneuverability is decent but the

jet suffers from limited payload and

sudden power drops only replacing it

with a more powerful engine can resolve

these issues a similar situation

occurred in Saudi Arabia a key us trade

partner since the early 20th century

Saudi Arabia spends billions annually on

American Arms in 2017 during former

president Trump's visit to rehea the US

and Saudi Arabia signed a decade long

arms deal worth $350 billion the largest

single arms transaction in US history

however under President Biden's

Administration the US imposed a ban on

arm sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021 due to

the Kingdom's alleged military support

for human rights violations in Yemen

China then seized this opportunity to

strengthen its relations with Saudi

Arabia attempting to replace US

influence in the Middle East in December

2022 Chinese leader chin ping visited

rehea and signed a strategic partnership

agreement with Saudi Arabia this deal

covered broad military cooperation and

bolstered the belt and Road initiative

China is Saudi Arabia's largest trading

partner while Saudi Arabia is China's

largest oil supplier commentators

suppose that these two authoritarian

states have come together over shared

interests dozens of European countries

and some Asian Nations including turkey

have condemned China's treatment of

wager Muslims in Shin Jang however Saudi

Arabia has remained silent on the issue

in exchange chines officials have not

criticized the Saudi government over the

killing of Jamal kosi accepting the

official explanation that he was the

victim of a rogue operation unlike the

US China Saudi trade relations come with

almost no strings attached professor

masin of international relations at

jjang International Studies University

stated as a trade partner China does not

impose any demands on Saudi Arabia

regarding sovereignty values or ideology

he added Saudi Arabia trusts China

however James dorsy a senior fellow at

Singapore's s rajaratnam School of

International Studies remarked Xi

Jinping clearly wants to take a stand

amidst the strained relations between

the US and Saudi Arabia Muhammad Alayah

a Saudi researcher at Harvard's belfer

Center and a senior fellow at the

Houston Institute commented that the

notion of Saudi Arabia replacing the US

with China today is far-fetched in

November 2022 during the duai air show

in China Saudi Arabia accounted for 10%

of the total 40 billion US do

transactions signing a new weapons

agreement worth4

billion these deals included arms drones

ballistic missiles and anti-drone Laser

systems several Chinese media Outlets

reported on the 4 billion US Dollars

ordered from Saudi Arabia describing it

as a significant investment and a sign

that Chinese weapons could gain a

stronger foothold in the Middle Eastern

Market they portrayed the order as a

clear vote of confidence in Chinese

military

equipment however some users

sarcastically commented if you

understood the scale of Saudi us arms

deals you won't be laughing one of their

deals is $350 billion and they spent $4

billion that's just pocket changed to

them in October 2023 China and Saudi

Arabia conducted a joint Naval Special

Operations exercise named Blue sword

2023 in jjang guangong as part of their

military cooperation plan Jen Jang is a

key base from the South China Sea Fleet

of the Chinese Navy after the exercises

rumors spread online that Saudi Arabia

was eyeing chinese-made military

equipment planning to purchase 81 j10c

fighter jets and 13 type 052d

guided missile destroyers Chinese

internet users celebrated claiming China

has won another victory in the Middle

East however by the end of 2023 Francis

La Tribune reported that Saudi Arabia's

fighter jet procurement plan did not

include Chinese products instead the

country opted to purchase 54 french-made

Rafel fighter jets dispelling earlier

rumors about potential Chinese

involvement some commented that given

Saudi Arabia as well it is unlikely the

country would choose Chinese aircraft

solely for their lower cost in February

2024 Saudi Arabia hosted the World

defense show 2024 where China presented

a wide range of advanced Weaponry

focusing on both armed and unarmed

drones as well as fighter jets

air-to-air missiles longrange air

defense and missile defense systems

among others the pla also sent the

August 1st aerobatic team to perform

with J10 fighter jets some Chinese media

reported that aside from Israel

acquiring American-made F35 stealth

fighter jets remains a distant dream for

Middle Eastern countries Beijing aims to

fill this Gap by offering the fifth

generation fc31 fighter jets helping

these countries achieve their defense

goals however Us Media Outlet breaking

defense reported that China's close

military ties with Saudi Arabia

including joint Naval exercises in

recent years have drawn significant

atten ion from the US and its Western

allies still there is almost no evidence

that Beijing can influence us Saudi

defense business in August 2024 news

emerged from the US Congress that the

Biden administration had decided to lift

the ban on defense weapon sales in Saudi

Arabia this move marks a reversal of the

three-year policy pressuring Saudi

Arabia to end the war in Yemen for China

this is unwelcome news making its

ambitions to expand influence in the

Middle East even more challenging

commentators suggest that Saudi Arabia's

cooperation with the US is focused on

defense while its partnership with China

revolves around trade indicating that

China may not fully grasp the situation

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