Egypt reinforces air power with China’s J-10CE fighter jets

Egypt has received its first batch of J-10CE fighter jets from China, marking a significant addition to its air force capabilities.

With the latest deliveries, Egypt now operates aircraft from four different countries: the United States, France, Russia, and now China, according to Defence Turk, Caliber.Az reports.

The J-10CE, an export variant of the J-10C developed by China's state-owned aviation manufacturer Avic Chengdu, is intended to offer a more affordable alternative to Western military equipment.

The J-10CE is a multirole, single-engine, single-seat, supersonic fighter jet of the "4+" generation. It is designed for all-weather operations and features advanced avionics, a radar with an active phased array antenna, and the capability to engage aerial targets at long ranges in complex electronic warfare environments. 

Additionally, the aircraft can strike ground targets, boasts short takeoff and landing abilities, and has a significant combat radius, high manoeuvrability at medium and low altitudes, and in-flight refuelling capabilities.

Egypt's air force modernization has spanned decades, with the country initially relying on Soviet-era aircraft like the MiG-17 and MiG-21, which were instrumental in the 1973 war. Following this, Egypt incorporated MiG-23s into its fleet. After the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, Egypt shifted to US-supplied F-16 fighters, acquiring one of the largest fleets globally. 

However, the US withheld AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, restricting the F-16s' beyond-visual-range combat abilities, leaving them at a disadvantage against Israel, Türkiye, and Gulf air forces with advanced F-15 and F-35 jets.

In 2015, Egypt bought 24 French Rafale fighters, later adding 30 more, making it the second-largest Rafale operator. Despite this, access to long-range Meteor missiles remained limited, hindering Egypt's operational reach. Egypt then turned to Russia, purchasing 46 MiG-29s, followed by attempts to acquire Su-35s.

However, the US warned that such a deal could harm military relations, leading Egypt to cancel it. Negotiations for F-15s with the US offered only a downgraded variant, and an upgrade to the F-16s failed to meet expectations.

Now, Egypt's decision to purchase Chinese J-10CE fighters marks a strategic shift in its air force capabilities. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev