China’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Co. posted record profit in 2025 and nearly doubled its first-quarter sales, reflecting growing momentum for the fighter jet maker after its aircraft drew global attention during last year’s India-Pakistan conflict.
Revenue rose 15.8 percent to 75.4 billion yuan ($11 billion) in 2025, while net profit increased 6.5 percent to 3.4 billion yuan, according to the company’s statement. Both figures marked record highs for the Chengdu-based manufacturer. First-quarter sales climbed nearly 80 percent from a year earlier.
AVIC Chengdu, one of China’s largest listed defense companies by market value, said stronger performance was supported by an asset reorganization that now includes its jet-making business.
The company’s international profile has risen since Pakistan praised the performance of the J-10 fighter jet and the JF-17 Thunder, which is jointly produced by AVIC Chengdu and Pakistan. The J-10 was used during the May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan, one of the first known instances in which advanced Chinese weapons were tested in active combat conditions.
Pakistan said it shot down multiple Indian aircraft during the fighting, including French-made Rafale jets. India acknowledged losing an aircraft but did not specify the total number.
Since the conflict, AVIC Chengdu’s aircraft have attracted growing interest from developing countries. Indonesia has signaled interest in acquiring the J-10, while Iraq, Bangladesh and Indonesia have expressed interest in the JF-17.
The company said during an investor question-and-answer session last week that expanding arms exports remains a priority. In February, it signed an agreement with the city of Chengdu in Sichuan province to expand aerospace production capacity.
Another major Chinese military aircraft manufacturer, AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Co., reported 2025 sales of 44.7 billion yuan and profit of 3.5 billion yuan, up 3.7 percent from a year earlier. The company, which produces the fifth-generation J-35 fighter, said higher sales boosted earnings, while a new factory is expected to begin mass production this year.
Both AVIC Chengdu and AVIC Shenyang are under US sanctions.
