During September 2024, various rumors suggested that the People’s Republic of China had finalized the sale of J-10C fighters to equip the Egyptian Air Force. According to multiple sources, the deal had allegedly taken place in August of the same year, with the North African country’s decision driven by the need to replace its aging U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets. However, the latest reports indicate that a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense has denied the occurrence of such military equipment sales between Beijing and Cairo.
As of today, the Egyptian Air Force is engaged in several large-scale re-equipment programs aimed at replacing various platforms in the short and medium term. Among them are Russian/Soviet-origin aircraft like the MiG-29M, as well as Western models such as the Mirage 2000.
Despite reaching agreements that led to the purchase of new Dassault Rafales from France—while awaiting an additional batch—Egypt has faced restrictions on acquiring weapons packages and modernization upgrades. Consequently, Cairo has been exploring new suppliers to procure modern military equipment.
These factors may explain why, during August and September, numerous rumors circulated claiming that the Egyptian Air Force was set to become the second international operator of the Chengdu J-10C fighter, manufactured by the People’s Republic of China. However, neither the Egyptian nor the Chinese government issued official statements on the matter in the past months.
Additionally, these rumors suggested that the Chinese offer had prevailed over the modernization of Egypt’s F-16s to the Block 70 Viper version and, more recently, that Egypt had already received its first PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
The situation prompted recent statements from spokespersons of China’s Ministry of Defense, who clarified that no agreements or contracts had been signed to equip the Egyptian Air Force with the J-10C or its export variant, the “CE.” In the words of China’s Ministry of Defense spokesperson, Wu Qian: “It does not match the facts. Total fake news.”
Beyond this situation, as of today, the frontline fighter of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has its primary foreign operator in the Pakistan Air Force, which acquired between 20 and 25 J-10CE units, incorporated since early 2022.
Recently, the Sudanese Air Force has also reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the Chinese-made fighter, citing ongoing disputes with neighboring Ethiopia and the urgent need to modernize its aerial combat capabilities.
Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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