Chinese J-10C fighters shock U.S. ally Egypt in joint exercise

This unprecedented drill, running from mid-April to early May, saw the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force deploy a detachment to Egypt, including at least five Xian Y-20 transport aircraft, which delivered the advanced fighters to  Cairo.

The event, announced by China’s Ministry of National Defense on April 16, has sparked intense interest due to persistent rumors that Egypt may be eyeing the J-10C as a potential addition to its air force, a move that could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

While the exercise aims to foster “pragmatic cooperation” and “enhance mutual trust and friendship,” according to Chinese officials, its implications extend far beyond a routine military drill, signaling China’s growing ambitions in a region long shaped by Western and Russian influence.

The presence of Chinese warplanes in Egypt, a key U.S. ally and a linchpin of Middle Eastern stability, has raised eyebrows in Washington and beyond. The J-10C, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, represents the cutting edge of China’s aerospace capabilities, and its deployment in Egypt underscores Beijing’s intent to showcase its military technology to potential buyers.

The exercise follows months of speculation about Egypt’s interest in Chinese aircraft, fueled by reports that Cairo may have ordered J-10C fighters as early as August 2024.

Although China’s Defense Ministry has denied claims of deliveries as recently as March 2025, calling such reports “totally fake news,” the sight of J-10Cs operating from Egyptian soil lends credence to the notion that Cairo is seriously evaluating these jets as part of its broader strategy to modernize its aging air force and reduce reliance on Western suppliers.

To understand the significance of this development, one must first examine the J-10C itself. Developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation, the J-10C, also known as the Vigorous Dragon, is a single-engine, delta-wing fighter with a canard configuration, designed for agility and versatility.

Entering service with the Chinese Air Force in 2017, it boasts an active electronically scanned array [AESA] radar, which allows it to track multiple targets simultaneously with greater precision than older mechanically scanned radars.

The jet is powered by a Chinese-made WS-10B turbofan engine, delivering a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and a combat radius of approximately 550 kilometers. Its armament includes the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile, capable of engaging targets up to 300 kilometers away in its domestic variant, though the export version, PL-15E, is limited to about 145 kilometers.

The J-10C can also carry PL-10 short-range missiles, laser-guided bombs, and anti-ship missiles, making it a true multirole platform suited for air superiority, ground attack, and maritime strike missions.

Compared to the American F-16, a mainstay of Egypt’s air force, the J-10C offers similar capabilities at a lower cost, estimated at $40-50 million per unit, against the F-16’s $60-70 million for newer variants. Unlike the F-16, however, the J-10C comes with fewer political strings, a critical factor for Egypt given its fraught history with U.S. arms restrictions.

Egypt’s air force, one of the largest in the Middle East, has long relied on a diverse fleet sourced from multiple suppliers. Its 218 F-16s, acquired in the 1980s, form the backbone of its combat capabilities, supplemented by 24 French Rafale jets and 46 Russian MiG-29Ms.

This diversification reflects  Cairo’s strategic calculus: by sourcing aircraft from the United States, France, Russia, and now potentially China, Egypt mitigates the risk of over-dependence on any single supplier, particularly in light of past U.S. restrictions. Following the 2013 ousting of President Mohamed Morsi, the U.S. suspended military aid to Egypt, delaying critical upgrades to its F-16 fleet.

Washington’s refusal to supply advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, citing concerns about maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge, has further limited the F-16s’ beyond-visual-range combat capabilities. Similarly, efforts to equip Egypt’s Rafales with the Meteor missile, which boasts a range exceeding 100 kilometers, have reportedly been blocked by Western powers.

These constraints have pushed Egypt to explore alternatives, with China emerging as an attractive partner due to its willingness to provide advanced systems without the political conditions often imposed by Western suppliers.

The Eagles of Civilization 2025 exercise serves as a high-profile stage for China to demonstrate the J-10C’s capabilities to Egyptian pilots and decision-makers. While neither side has disclosed the full scope of the maneuvers or the specific aircraft involved, unverified reports suggest the Chinese contingent may also include KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, enhancing the exercise’s complexity.

The Y-20 transport planes, which ferried the J-10Cs to Egypt, underscore China’s growing ability to project power far from its borders. Capable of carrying up to 66 tons of cargo, the Y-20 rivals the American C-17 Globemaster III and allows China to deploy combat aircraft without relying on local infrastructure, a logistical feat that signals its maturing global military reach.

For Egypt, the exercise offers a chance to assess the J-10C’s performance in realistic scenarios, from air combat to joint operations with its existing fleet. As Chinese military commentator Wang Yunfei told the Global Times, the drill could “pave the way for potential equipment cooperation in the future,” hinting at Beijing’s hopes for a broader arms relationship with  Cairo.

The historical context of Egypt’s military modernization provides crucial insight into its current pivot toward China. During the Cold War, Egypt relied heavily on Soviet aircraft, such as the MiG-17 and MiG-21, which played pivotal roles in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Following the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty, Cairo shifted toward American platforms, building one of the world’s largest F-16 fleets.

However, U.S. restrictions on advanced weaponry and spare parts have repeatedly frustrated Egypt’s ambitions to maintain air superiority in a region where neighbors like Israel operate cutting-edge F-35 stealth jets. Egypt’s brief flirtation with Russian Su-35 fighters in 2019 was scuttled after U.S. threats of sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act [CAATSA].

A proposed deal for downgraded F-15s and an upgrade package for Egypt’s F-16s also fell short of expectations, according to DailyNewsEgypt.com. Against this backdrop, China’s offer of J-10C fighters, equipped with advanced radar and missiles, represents a pragmatic solution for Egypt to bolster its capabilities without navigating the political minefield of Western or Russian arms deals.

The rumored J-10C deal, reportedly initiated on August 19, 2024, has been a subject of intense debate. While some reports, such as those from DailyNewsEgypt.com, claimed Egypt received its first batch of J-10CE jets in February 2025, China’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian dismissed these as “inconsistent with the facts” in March 2025.

The lack of official confirmation from Cairo or Beijing keeps the deal shrouded in uncertainty, but the J-10C’s prominent display at the Egypt International Air Show in September 2024 and the ongoing joint exercise suggest serious intent.

Pakistan, which received 36 J-10CE jets in 2022, serves as a precedent for Egypt’s potential acquisition, demonstrating the jet’s reliability and export viability. Unlike Pakistan, however, Egypt’s adoption of Chinese fighters would carry greater symbolic weight, given its strategic position and historical alignment with the West.

Beyond the technical and operational aspects, the exercise and potential J-10C deal have profound geopolitical implications. Egypt’s growing ties with China, cemented by its 2024 entry into the BRICS bloc alongside China, Russia, and India, reflect a broader realignment toward the Global South.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which includes significant investments in Egyptian infrastructure, further strengthens this partnership. For Beijing, securing Egypt as a military client would not only boost its arms export market but also establish a foothold in the Middle East, a region critical to global trade and energy flows.

The Suez Canal, controlled by Egypt, remains a vital artery for international shipping, and China’s military presence, even in the form of joint exercises, enhances its influence over this strategic chokepoint.

For regional powers like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the prospect of Chinese fighters in Egyptian hands raises complex considerations. Israel, with its F-35I stealth jets and advanced electronic warfare capabilities, maintains a qualitative edge over Egypt’s current fleet.

However, the J-10C’s PL-15 missiles, with their extended range, could challenge non-stealth platforms like Israel’s F-16s in beyond-visual-range engagements, according to NextBigFuture.com.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both of which balance ties with China and the U.S., may reassess their own procurement strategies if Egypt successfully integrates Chinese aircraft. The broader Middle East, already a geopolitical chessboard, could see new fault lines emerge as China’s military footprint grows.

The exercise also highlights China’s evolving strategy of using “soft military power” to build influence. Unlike the U.S., which often ties arms sales to human rights or political reforms, or Russia, constrained by sanctions and its ongoing war in Ukraine, China offers affordable, advanced systems with minimal conditions.

This approach resonates with countries like Egypt, which seek strategic autonomy in a volatile region. If Egypt were to procure J-10Cs, it could pave the way for other Chinese platforms, such as  drones or air defense systems, further eroding Western dominance in the regional arms market.

The J-10C’s success in Pakistan, where it reportedly outperformed Eurofighter Typhoons in exercises, according to Chinese military bloggers on Douyin, adds to its appeal as a cost-effective alternative to Western jets.

Integrating Chinese aircraft into Egypt’s diverse fleet poses logistical challenges. Maintenance, training, and interoperability with American, French, and Russian platforms could strain Egypt’s resources, as noted by Reddit’s FighterJets community.

Yet, the strategic benefits—access to advanced weaponry, reduced vulnerability to Western sanctions, and a hedge against regional threats—may outweigh these hurdles. Egypt’s military planners are likely weighing these factors as they observe the J-10C in action during the joint exercise, which could serve as a proving ground for future cooperation.

From a U.S. perspective, the sight of Chinese jets in Egypt is a wake-up call. Washington’s $1.3 billion annual military aid to  Cairo, approved as recently as September 2024, has not deterred Egypt from exploring Chinese options.

The Biden administration’s decision to release this aid, despite human rights concerns, was partly seen as an effort to counter China’s growing influence, according to EurAsianTimes.com. Yet, Egypt’s frustration with U.S. restrictions suggests that aid alone may not suffice to maintain its loyalty in an increasingly multipolar world.

As the Eagles of Civilization 2025 unfolds, its true significance lies not in the maneuvers practiced or the aircraft displayed, but in the message it sends about the shifting power dynamics of the Middle East. For Egypt, the exercise is a bold step toward asserting its independence and modernizing its air force amid regional uncertainties, from tensions in Gaza to threats in Libya and the Red Sea.

For China, it is a calculated move to project military power and court new markets, challenging the dominance of Western arms suppliers. The J-10C, with its sleek design and advanced capabilities, embodies this ambition, offering Egypt a glimpse of a future less tethered to Washington’s orbit.

Whether Cairo ultimately procures the J-10C remains an open question, one that will hinge on political, financial, and operational considerations in the months ahead. What is clear, however, is that the sight of Chinese fighters soaring over Egyptian skies marks a pivotal moment in the region’s evolving strategic landscape.

As Beijing and Cairo deepen their partnership, the Middle East may find itself at a crossroads, where new players and new rules redefine the balance of power.

Will Egypt’s flirtation with Chinese jets herald a broader realignment, or is it merely a pragmatic maneuver in a complex geopolitical game? Only time will tell, but the echoes of the J-10C’s engines over the Egyptian desert are impossible to ignore.