The 36 order will be completed in 2026-27 hopefully.
We have indeed seen many rumors about 36 J-10CE aircraft. However, we haven't seen any conclusive evidence. The previously leaked contract for the PAF's purchase of J-10CE fighter jets only showed 20 J-10CE aircraft.
If the remaining 16 J-10CE aircraft were ordered along with the first batch, then, given CAC's production capacity, they should have been delivered a long time ago.
Based on the timeline, CAC should have transferred its production line to Guizhou only after completing the production of the 20 J-10CE fighter jets for the PAF. Therefore, they should not have received any purchase intentions before transferring the production line.
Objectively speaking, the PAF does need to purchase some more J-10CE fighter jets.
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PLAAF's organizational structure:
Pure 5th-Gen fighter brigade: 24-36 fighter jets
Pure 4-4.5th-Gen fighter brigade: 40-48 fighter jets
Mixed fighter brigade: around 40 fighter jets
Each fighter brigade is equipped with a complete brigade-level tactical command center, including comprehensive systems for operations, intelligence, and communications. This command center is also one of the core nodes of the military's complete command system. Units below the brigade level do not have separate tactical command centers.
The PAF should also have a complete J-10CE fighter brigade unit. ------ I am not familiar with the PAF's organizational structure, so this is just a general estimate.