The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force was on April 20 confirmed to have deployed J-10C fighter aircraft supporting by KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems to Egypt to participate in the ‘Eagles of Civilisation 2025’ joint air exercises with the Egyptian Air Force. The exercises are taking place at a time of growing tensions between Egypt and Western Bloc states, primarily due to the sustained pressure that has been placed on Cairo to accept much of the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip as part of plans to place the territory under the control of neighbouring Israel. Egypt’s current fighter inventory is compromised overwhelmingly of Western aircraft, with over 180 F-16s in service and 54 Rafale fighters on order.
The extensive downgrading of Western fighters sold to Egypt is reported to have strengthened Cairo’s interest in procuring Chinese fighter aircraft, namely the J-10C and J-35, with a number of sources having claimed that the first orders for J-10Cs were placed in 2024. As China itself faces growing military pressure from Western Bloc states in the Pacific, the strengthening of defence ties with Egypt and bolstering of the African state’s defences has the potential to yield major strategic dividends.