Egypt has reportedly become the new operator of the Chinese J-10C fighter, marking a turning point in its defense policy

Several reports indicate that Egypt will become the second export operator of the Chinese J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” fighter. Although there is no official confirmation yet, on August 19 the Egyptian Ministry of Defense apparently placed its first order for J-10C fighters, although the exact number of units is unknown.

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Cairo’s interest in the J-10C (and also in the J-31 fifth-generation fighter) had already been reported in July. The J-10C is attractive to Egypt because it is a modern, relatively low-cost, generation 4++ multirole fighter capable of performing most of the missions currently flown by the Egyptian Air Force with its F-16s, which it is intended to replace. The Chinese offer apparently outbid the U.S. proposal to upgrade part of Egypt’s extensive F-16 fleet (more than 200 aircraftx) to the Viper standard.

A stunning aerobatic display performed by Chinese air force’s Y-20 transport plane and J-10 fighter jets in the skies above Egypt’s Giza Pyramids wowed audiences on Wednesday.https://t.co/Jz7reCen4W pic.twitter.com/dLRO4EFtRR

— CCTV+ (@CCTV_Plus) August 29, 2024

Compromised security scenario and shifting alliances

The proposal to acquire Chinese J-10C fighters fits into the broader and extremely complex geopolitical context of the Middle East, which would reflect a shift in Cairo’s strategic priorities. Egypt and China have been strengthening their economic and strategic ties for years, a process that accelerated after Egypt joined the BRICS bloc.

This decision, which will undoubtedly cause deep discomfort in Washington, is likely also linked to the ongoing US political and military support for the Israeli offensive against Hamas. Egyptian officials have expressed concern that Jerusalem’s plan is to push nearly two million Palestinians towards Egypt, a country that lacks the economic resources and infrastructure to accommodate them, with the ultimate goal of annexing the entire Gaza Strip.

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Unlike the West, which has sanctioned Cairo primarily for its dismal human rights record and its refusal to sell advanced air-to-air missiles (such as the AMRAAM for F-16s and Meteor for Rafales, in order to avoid tensions with Israel), the J-10C, its components, and weaponry, are entirely Chinese-made and are not subject to ITAR restrictions. Additionally, Beijing maintains a «non-interference» policy in the internal affairs of countries with which it does business, without imposing political conditions on arms deals, which is particularly attractive to the government of President El-Sisi.