This country already operates French, American, Russian fighters, and now-retired Chinese bombers. Now, it is looking to acquire more fighter jets to replace its aging US F-16 aircraft, and Chinese J-10C jets are in “hot contention.”
There is growing speculation that Egypt is considering acquiring the Chinese J-10C Vigorous Dragon fighter jet to modernise its air fleet. It is also exploring Korean FA-50 fighters.
The debut of the J-10C Vigorous Dragon at the Egypt International Air Show in September 2024 sparked a flurry of speculations that Egypt was considering purchasing the Chinese aircraft.
Later, in February 2025, some local Egyptian publications even claimed that the country had secured the delivery of the aircraft from China. The claims were later dismissed as “fake news” by the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian.
However, a video footage of an Egyptian pilot sitting in the J-10C during the Eagles of Civilisation 2025 joint air drills in April 2025, once again triggered speculation that a potential acquisition might be on the cards.
While reports late last month indicated that Egypt was more inclined towards the South Korean FA-50, a recent report in South Korea’s Chosun Daily said that the alleged success of Pakistani J-10C fighter jets against Indian warplanes could make the Chinese aircraft a more desirable option for the Egyptian Air Force.
However, if Egypt actually goes ahead with the J-10C over the Korean FA-50, it would become the second country (after Pakistan) to acquire the 4.5th-generation Chinese combat aircraft.
The Egyptian Air Force currently comprises American, Russian, and French fighter jets. Interestingly, it could become the only country to operate French Rafale and Chinese J-10C fighters. What makes it so significant is that both of these warplanes were used in the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
Egypt currently has more than 200 F-16s, making it the fourth largest operator of the combat-hardened Fighting Falcons.
In February 2015, Egypt signed a contract for 24 Rafale jets, including 16 two-seat Rafale DM and eight single-seat Rafale EM, with deliveries starting in July 2015. This deal made Egypt the first international customer of the Dassault Rafale.
Despite buying the French fighter, Egypt ordered 46 MiG-29M/M2 fighter jets from Russia in April 2015. The deliveries started in 2017, with the final delivery completed in 2020.
Separately, in 2018, it ordered 24 Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. However, due to pressure from the United States, it eventually had to cancel the order.
Two years later, in 2021, it placed an additional order for 30 more Rafales. While the deliveries are still a work in progress, Cairo is expected to have 55 Rafales by 2026.
With a fleet consisting of top-of-the-line 4th and 4+ gen combat aircraft, Egypt has been looking for another aircraft, mostly as it struggles to maintain the fleet of American and Russian fighters.
For one, the Ukraine war threw a spanner in the maintenance of the MiG-29M/M2, and their spare supply took a hit. On the other hand, the upgrades to the archaic F-16 have suffered due to strict US regulations on spare part supplies and the imposition of unilateral, stringent operational limitations.
China wants to exploit this opportunity to break into the Middle Eastern market with its J-10C fighters.
The acquisition of the J-10C into the Egyptian Air Force will be an intriguing addition, given that it will operate alongside the Rafale, which it allegedly faced off against in the latest round of border conflict between India and Pakistan.
The two aircraft are believed to have comparable technical specifications, although the Rafale is considered more advanced. In 2022, Pakistan procured the J-10C to counter India’s purchase of the French Rafale.
Pakistan claimed the downing of the Indian Air Force Rafale using a PL-15E long-range missile fired from the J-10C—a claim not substantiated with evidence.
Egypt & China Have Strong Defense Ties
Egypt’s purchase of a Chinese platform would hardly be surprising.
Egypt has established a solid relationship with China in addition to its long-standing alliance with the United States, as demonstrated by its participation in the BRICS coalition, an intergovernmental organization that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Egypt is also collaborating with China on the Belt and Road Initiative.
With major arms deals and cooperative industrial projects spanning several decades, Egypt and China have maintained a strong and long-standing defense cooperation. This strategic partnership began to take shape following Egypt’s substantial losses in the Yom Kippur War and its subsequent divergence from the Soviet Union.
The first-ever arms deal between China and Egypt was signed in 1975, marking China’s first entry into the Middle East arms trade.
The agreement’s main focus was the purchase of Xi’an H-6 bombers, which laid the groundwork for several further military deals. During the 1980s, Egypt added a wide range of Chinese military equipment to its arsenal, including missile boats, submarines, destroyers, and aircraft such as the F-7B and J-6 jet fighters, the latter of which were built in Egypt.
As it entered the 2000s, a closer defense relationship was forged. Egypt acquired a range of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including the CH-4 B and Wing Loong 1 drones. It also initiated local production of the ASN-209 reconnaissance UAV and assembled significant numbers of K-8 Karakorum training aircraft domestically.
In 2023, reports surfaced detailing Egypt’s negotiations with China for the acquisition of the Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter. Representatives from China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group even reportedly met the Egyptian officials to highlight the J-10C’s latest upgrades, which include advanced electronic warfare capabilities and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system.
Like other countries, China has been aggressively pursuing the Middle East market for its aircraft exports, promoting the J-10C as a better alternative to the US F-16 Fighting Falcon, the European Eurofighter Typhoon, and the French Rafale. It has been trying to capitalize on the cost-competitiveness of its aircraft, with each unit costing around US$40–50 million compared to approximately 90-100 million for Western jets.
The J-10C is frequently likened to upgraded US F-16 Fighting Falcon variants. Like the F-16, its fly-by-wire flight control system uses a computer to maintain its extremely agile, aerodynamically unstable airframe.
It has an indigenous AESA radar, imaging infrared seeker (IIR) PL-10, WS-10B engine, and PL-15 air-to-air missiles. It features state-of-the-art capabilities, including electronic warfare, computerized glass cockpit instruments, precise air-to-ground strike, beyond-visual-range combat, and in-flight refueling.
The aircraft is capable of all-weather operations. Its primary role is air-to-air combat, but it can also perform strike missions. Chinese experts have hailed the aircraft as a game changer for combat, often citing its improved sensors and weapons for visual and beyond-visual-range engagements and its reduced radar signature as a hedge over its global rivals.
The Chinese multirole fighter also has a forward-looking infrared and laser target designator pod. This pod was created to facilitate the use of weapons guided by satellite navigation and lasers. Thus, it is likely to be a tempting purchase for Cairo.
It remains to be seen if Egypt will purchase this aircraft from a trusted partner or reject the offer.
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