Iran will become the second overseas user of Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group's J-10 fighter without paying a dollar to China by signing a contract to allow Beijing to exploit its largest oilfield over the next 20 years, according to our sister paper Want Daily.

China will provide the Iranian Air Force with a total number of 24 F-10 Vigorous Dragon jets, the export version of the J-10, to equip its two fighter groups. The cost of a single J-10 is estimated at US$40 million, making the value of the deal around US$1 billion. This could be bartered through permitting Beijing 20 years of exploitation rights to the Azadegan oilfield.

With a range of 2,940 kilometers, the fighters are capable of defending Iran's entire airspace and that of the Persian Gulf.