Egypt Seeks Alternatives to F-35: Considers Chinese Fighter Jets
Egypt is considering purchasing 4th and 5th-generation Chinese fighter jets after an F-35 sale freeze; Cairo may use this move as a bargaining chip against the U.S.
Following the freeze on the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Egypt, Cairo is considering purchasing 4th and 5th-generation Chinese fighter jets. This move may be intended to pressure the U.S. and make it clear that if the F-35 sale is not approved, Egypt will turn to acquiring aircraft from China. At the same time, it is possible that Cairo has serious intentions to purchase Chinese aircraft.
According to a report by Business Insider, Egypt is interested in acquiring the 4th generation Chinese J-10C fighter jet, which is already in use by the air forces of Egypt and Pakistan, as well as the Chinese 5th generation FC-31 fighter jet, which is still in the prototype stage. Additionally, there are reports that Egypt has requested to purchase the 5th generation J-20 fighter jet, but China does not permit its export.
China is interested in selling fighter jets to Egypt, assuming that such deals could lead to additional transactions for military and defense products. However, some experts believe there is cause for concern as Cairo might be cautious about damaging its relations with the U.S. if it opts to purchase aircraft from China. Another argument raised is that Egypt should consider Israel's potential reaction, as Israel might view such a deal as a potential threat.
In 2018, then-president Donald Trump said he would sell 20 F-35 aircraft to Egypt, but the deal was frozen following opposition from the U.S. Department of Defense and Israel. As a result, Egypt turned to Russia in an attempt to purchase two dozen Sukhoi SU-35 aircraft, but ended up canceling the deal out of fear of American sanctions.