Egypt is looking at China's J-35, but is in no hurry to make a bet - all because of the Americans
During the recent joint air exercises with China, the Egyptian Air Force commander apparently took an interest in the latest J-35 stealth fighter. There are no official statements, but the situation has already caused a wave of speculation.
Here's What We Know
The Eagles of Civilisation 2025 air exercise was held at the Egyptian base of Wadi Abu Rish. China arrived with J-10C fighter jets, KJ-500 early warning aircraft, and YU-20 refuellers. Egypt deployed Russian MiG-29s. It was during these manoeuvres that General Mahmoud Fouad Abdel Gawad, according to unofficial information, expressed a strong interest in the fifth-generation J-35 fighter jet.
The J-35, which is not yet officially available for sale, is based on the FC-31 demonstrator. It is designed to operate outside of visual contact and is capable of carrying up to six internal and six external munitions, including Chinese PL-10, PL-15, PL-21 missiles and precision-guided bombs. Thanks to its reduced visibility, modern sensors, and combat range of up to 1,200 km, it has ambitions to compete with its US counterparts.
Interestingly, Egypt already has more than 200 American F-16s, French Rafales and Russian MiGs in its arsenal. However, Cairo is not allowed to upgrade its F-16s to Western standards, as Washington has limited the supply of AESA radars and modern missiles. In 2018, the Egyptians intended to buy Su-35s from Russia, but the deal was disrupted by US sanctions.
The promising Chinese J-35 fighter jet. Illustration: @ZGGGRWY01
It is in this context that the interest in Chinese systems looks quite logical. But for now, it is more a way to show the United States that Egypt has an alternative. In 2022, a similar strategy bore fruit - after negotiations on the Su-35, Washington offered Cairo access to F-15s.
However, there are risks - the J-35 has not yet passed combat tests, the final version of the engine is still under development, and the aircraft itself remains a prototype in the late stages of testing. In addition, the compatibility of the Chinese platform with existing NATO systems is questionable - integration will require money and time.
Nevertheless, Cairo also has a third option - the South Korean FA-50 light fighter with Western standards, lower cost, and local production potential.
All of this demonstrates Egypt's desire to pursue a multi-vector approach. The partnership with China was formalised last year, and the value of the contracts has already reached a billion dollars. The Eagles of Civilisation exercise was an opportunity to see Chinese equipment in action, but whether Cairo will buy the J-35 is a big question.
Source: Army Recognition
