The defense landscape of North Africa and the broader Middle East, a high-ranking commander in the Egyptian Air Force has publicly expressed interest in China’s cutting-edge stealth fighter, the J-35A. The comments, made during the inaugural “Eagle of Civilization 2025” joint aerial exercises between China and Egypt, suggest a potential realignment in Cairo’s airpower strategy and a growing appetite for fifth-generation warfare capabilities.
Lieutenant General Mahmoud Fuad Abdel Gawad, a senior figure within the Egyptian Air Force, reportedly voiced his admiration for China’s J-35A during the exercises held at Wadi Abu Rish Air Base in April. Sources from North African defense media suggest that the general conveyed a strong desire to evaluate the aircraft personally in China—an indication that Egypt is seriously considering integrating the J-35A into its future force composition.
While neither Cairo nor Beijing has officially confirmed a procurement plan, Lt. Gen. Mahmoud’s comments are being read as a clear signal of Egypt’s intent to diversify its military partners and modernize its air fleet beyond traditional Western suppliers.
The joint exercise, held from mid-April into early May, marked a milestone in Sino-Egyptian defense relations. It featured China’s J-10C multirole fighters, the YU-20 aerial refueling tanker, and for the first time on foreign soil, the KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. The inclusion of the KJ-500 underscored the seriousness with which Beijing approached this engagement, framing it as a strategic platform for future cooperation.
China’s Ministry of National Defense characterized the drills as a diplomatic and operational breakthrough, aimed at enhancing “practical cooperation and mutual trust.” For Egypt, which has long relied on a mix of American, French, and Russian aircraft, the exercise represented a chance to explore new aerial doctrines and technologies.
Egypt’s potential interest in acquiring Chinese aircraft like the J-35A and J-10CE suggests a strategic shift driven by multiple factors: diversification of military suppliers, reduced dependency on Western platforms, and access to high-performance systems at more competitive costs.
The J-10CE, an export variant of the J-10C, has already been rumored to be under consideration by Cairo, with reports suggesting a possible order of up to 40 units. Equipped with the PL-15 beyond-visual-range missile, the J-10CE offers formidable multirole capabilities at a fraction of the cost of Western equivalents like the F-16 or Rafale.
Recently unveiled in an official flight over a Chinese urban center, the J-35A is China’s second fifth-generation stealth fighter after the J-20. Developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation under the AVIC conglomerate, the J-35A is pitched as a scalable platform designed for both domestic and export use.
Sleek, stealthy, and packed with next-generation avionics, the J-35A is engineered for survivability and lethality in high-threat environments. Its twin engines, AESA radar, internal weapons bay, and sensor fusion technology place it in direct competition with the U.S. F-35, albeit with a different set of tradeoffs.
According to SAC designers, the J-35A’s mission set includes air superiority, precision strike, and integrated network operations. With its capacity to act as a battle manager in the sky, the fighter is well-suited to modern joint-force doctrines.
The joint drill with Egypt is part of a broader Chinese strategy to establish its defense credentials in the MENA region. By exporting systems like the J-10CE and potentially the J-35A, Beijing is not only generating revenue but also expanding its influence through military interoperability and logistical dependency.
In 2023, China’s defense exports to MENA grew by over 15%, with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria emerging as major clients. If Egypt joins that list with a J-35A order, it would represent a watershed moment in the regional defense order.
Egypt’s tilt toward Chinese aviation technology comes as U.S. influence in the region undergoes reevaluation. Western arms restrictions, shifting alliances, and political frictions have prompted countries like Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia to consider alternative suppliers.
In particular, Egypt’s previous attempts to acquire U.S. F-35s were reportedly stalled due to political concerns. This has opened the door for China to present the J-35A as a capable and politically unrestricted alternative.
J-35A vs. F-35:
| Feature | J-35A | F-35A |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | Twin | Single |
| Avionics | Advanced AESA, sensor fusion | Advanced AESA, sensor fusion |
| Stealth | Radar-absorbent materials, internal weapons bay | Radar-absorbent materials, internal weapons bay |
| Armament | PL-17, guided bombs, cruise missiles | AMRAAM, JDAM, AIM-9X |
| Export Status | In development for export | Restricted to key allies |
While the F-35 enjoys a technological lead in some areas, the J-35A is rapidly closing the gap, especially in terms of export accessibility and operational flexibility.
Lt. Gen. Mahmoud’s expressed interest in visiting China for a firsthand evaluation of the J-35A signals more than curiosity—it suggests an active exploration of procurement. Such a visit would likely include flight demonstrations, simulator testing, and discussions on industrial offsets or localized assembly options.
Analysts suggest that if Egypt proceeds with acquiring the J-35A, it might seek technology transfer arrangements or partnerships with Chinese defense firms, in line with its ambitions to bolster its domestic aerospace sector.
The “Eagle of Civilization” exercise has lifted the curtain on a new chapter in Sino-Egyptian military relations. With Egypt openly eyeing the J-35A, Beijing’s strategic gambit to position itself as a viable defense partner in the Middle East is bearing fruit.
More than just a hardware acquisition, the interest in the J-35A is a harbinger of changing tides in the global arms market—where performance, price, and political alignment converge to redraw the map of military alliances.
