Egypt pivots from US to China with J‑10C fighter jet acquisition

The United States has suffered a reputational defeat. Egypt, which for years has been purchasing American weapons and even launched licensed production of Abrams tanks, no longer wants the F-16. Instead of American planes, it has chosen Chinese Chengdu J-10C aircraft.

The F-16 is the backbone of Egypt's air force. The country operates as many as 218 aircraft, including 40 in the old F-16A/B variant. In modernizing its air force, the Egyptian authorities decided to replace the oldest F-16s with a new aircraft type.

Cairo also rejected the American proposal to deliver the latest version of the F-16, the F-16V, and the Russian offer to replace the Vipers with MiG-29M2 aircraft. Instead, Egypt chose the Chinese multi-role aircraft Chengdu J-10C.

In light of this information, which Cairo and Beijing have not officially confirmed, the recent presentation of Chinese aircraft has gained a new context. During the Egypt International Airshow 2024, organized in early September, six Chinese J-10C and a Y-20 Kunpeng transport aircraft flew over the Egyptian pyramids.

Egypt's decision is being commented on as an attempt to become less dependent on the United States. Cairo is diversifying its weapons purchases. A decade ago, it ordered Su-35 and MiG-29M2 aircraft from Russia, but the operation of these machines and Russia's reliability as a supplier of parts was unsatisfactory.

Subsequently, Egypt ordered 54 French Dassault Rafale aircraft (with an option to order more), and now it is replacing part of its F-16 fleet with aircraft from China. As noted by Maciej Szopa from Defence 24, one of the factors influencing this decision may be that the specifics, capabilities, and weaknesses of Chinese aircraft are likely not known to Israel. The only foreign user of Chinese J-10 aircraft at present is Pakistan.

The decision is likely political, as the J-10C, although more modern than the old versions of the F-16, is inferior to the new variants of this machine offered to Egypt.

The Chengdu J-10 is an aircraft designed in China in the 1980s, initially as a fighter aircraft and then, in line with global trends, as a multi-role machine.

Its serial production began in 2003, resulting in over 600 units so far. The J-10 has a "canard" aerodynamic layout, is powered by a single engine, and weighs about 19,500 kilograms in the take-off configuration, of which 5,400 kilograms can be dedicated to armament.