2024-07-26 10:30:18
Beijing: China has offered its state-of-the-art J-10C, J-31 fighter planes to Egypt, one of America’s strongest allies in the Middle East. These are the same fighter planes that China has sold to Pakistan. China is trying to increase its arms exports to the Middle East and reduce these countries’ dependence on America. Egypt is also going through financial crisis these days. In such a situation, Egypt can get fighter planes at a cheap price and on concessional loan. In such a situation, it is likely that both the countries will approve this deal considering their respective benefits.
Egyptian Air Force commander visits China
The J-10C is a 4.5-generation fighter jet, while the J-31 is a fifth-generation fighter. Currently, the most advanced aircraft in the Egyptian Air Force is the Rafale, built by France’s Dassault Aviation. These Chinese-made jets were offered during Egyptian Air Force Commander General Mahmoud Fuad Abdel Gawad’s visit to China, where he met his counterpart General Chang Dingqiu in Beijing. The meeting took place at the invitation of General Chang to enhance strategic ties between the two countries.
China will increase military cooperation with China
According to an official statement from the Egyptian Armed Forces, General Gawad’s visit to China underlines Egypt’s commitment to strengthen military ties with the friendly country. During this, increasing cooperation between the air forces of the two countries was also discussed. Officials of both countries explored the possibility, especially in the field of training programs, technology transfer and joint equipment production.
Egyptian officials observed the flight of J-10C
General Gawad also met key players in the Chinese defense industry, including representatives from the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) and China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO). In addition, he visited Tangshan Air Base, where he and senior Egyptian air force officials had the opportunity to watch a flight demonstration of the J-10C fighter jet. China has been offering the J-10C to Egypt for several years.
Discussion on acquisition of aircraft in both the countries
Last year, Middle Eastern defense media reported that Egyptian officials discussed the acquisition with the jet’s manufacturer, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, during the LIMA ’23 exhibition in Langkawi. The J-10C was present at the exhibition because it is the aircraft chosen for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) aerobatic team, “August 1”. Currently, Beijing exports the single-engine J-10C only to the Pakistani Air Force.
Egypt wants to buy J-10C
The Egyptian Air Force is also keen to acquire the J-10C. The aircraft was publicly unveiled in China in July 2017 and entered combat service with the Chinese Air Force in 2018. Compared to earlier variants, the J-10C is lighter, stealthier, and equipped with more powerful engines and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for improved target detection capabilities. Regional military observers estimate that the PLAAF operates about 150 J-10C fighter jets.
Egypt is also interested in F-31
Meanwhile, the fifth-generation stealth fighter J-31 “Gyrfalcon” or F-31 developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation has also attracted interest from several Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt. Apart from the Middle East, Pakistan has shown keen interest in acquiring the J-31 after acquiring the J-10C. Speaking at a new equipment induction ceremony in Islamabad earlier this year, Air Marshal Zahir Ahmad Babar Sidhu said the J-31 would enter service with the Pakistani Air Force “soon”. He said talks are underway to acquire the J-31. China has developed the J-31 for export markets as its first fifth-generation fighter, the J-20 “Mighty Dragon” is reserved only for the Chinese Air Force.