Israeli websites have revealed significant Israeli concern over Egypt’s acquisition of Chinese fifth-generation stealth fighters, which include advanced Chinese radar systems. These systems include a sophisticated and modern Chinese defense system and advanced Chinese military radars capable of militarily disrupting the military capabilities of Egypt’s neighbor, Israel, and protecting Egyptian airspace and repelling any threats. China is also supplying Egypt with an advanced, highly intelligent radar system. This comes as Egypt turns to China to balance military power in the region against Israel and its American ally. Egypt’s acquisition of the Chinese fifth-generation fighter jet is a counter to Israeli superiority. The Chinese fighter is known militarily as the J-35A.
The advanced Chinese radar deal for Egypt comes in light of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pledge in September 2024 to increase China’s military support for the African continent with funding amounting to approximately $51 billion over the next three years. The beginning of 2025 marked the conclusion of what was known as the “Golden Decade,” a ten-year period during which Egypt and China witnessed growth in their bilateral relations. The Chinese radar deal for Egypt comes at a time of regional instability, with the ongoing war in Gaza, escalating tensions in the Red Sea and the Egyptian Suez Canal, and Trump’s economic war, imposing tariffs on both his country’s adversaries and allies, causing turmoil and stifling economic crises around the world.
Therefore, this military rapprochement between Egypt and China represents a clear message to European countries and the United States that Cairo enjoys independence in its political decisions and also needs a more significant role from these countries, which are attempting to exert pressure on Egypt, whether regarding the situation in Gaza or elsewhere, which could harm Egyptian national interests. Therefore, Egypt’s move to diversify its sources and strengthen its relations with Eastern allies, especially China, comes within the framework of China’s growing strategy to support countries in the developing global South, known as the South-South Policy, of which China is the world’s leading actor, as the largest developing country. Israel’s tremendous anger at China stems from China’s supply of high-quality radar systems to Egypt. Israel was the first entity in the Middle East to acquire the (fifth-generation stealth fighter), which is known militarily as the (F-35I) and nicknamed (Adir) by Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv acquired these aircraft through contracts and American support. Israel’s military has focused heavily on strengthening its fleet of these American stealth fighters and has sought to double their numbers. Therefore, the conclusion of the radar deal between Egypt and China comes as a severe blow to Israel, as advanced stealth radar technology has fallen into the hands of its Egyptian neighbor on the border. China is one of the world’s most important military technologies. It has developed a (fifth-generation fighter jet), along with the United States and Russia, with its (multi-role Chengdu J-20 fighter), known by the abbreviation (J-20).
In recent years, Egypt has begun shifting its focus toward China, contracting to acquire up to 40 Chinese fighter jets, known as the J-10C. These Chinese stealth fighters will replace the Egyptian Air Force’s aging F-16s. Egypt will also receive advanced weaponry from China, which Washington previously refused to provide to Egypt in order to maintain Israel’s qualitative superiority in the region.
Accordingly, the “Chinese FC-31,” which is known as the Gyrfalcon Fighter, may be the ideal option for Egypt to enter the world of fifth-generation stealth fighters.
With Western options dwindling and the difficulty of obtaining American F-35 fighters, China may be the most realistic destination for Egypt to enhance its air fleet with Chinese fifth-generation fighters. The FC-31 stealth fighter offers a balance between advanced performance and reasonable cost, making it an option worthy of study and attention from the Egyptian military.
The United States imposes restrictions on the sale of certain advanced weapons to Egypt for several reasons, most notably Israel’s qualitative military superiority. The United States is committed to ensuring Israel’s qualitative military superiority in the region, which means that Israel must maintain a qualitative superiority in weapons and military technology compared to its neighbors. In this context, Egypt has shifted its focus to China to meet its arms demands, signing a deal for advanced Chinese fighter jets for Egypt. Several Chinese aircraft are also being imported into Egypt, most notably the Chengdu J-10C and Shenyang J-31.
The deal for the Chinese radar system for Egypt and the practical training arrangements for it could represent a significant development in Egypt’s defense modernization efforts by supplying it with advanced Chinese electronic warfare systems. This confirms the efficiency of this advanced Chinese technology and the confidence of the Egyptian Armament Authority in Chinese systems militarily in confronting any challenges or military pressures facing Egypt at the present time. The Chinese radar deal with Egypt bolsters Egypt’s air defense system as a strategic step that enhances its intelligence and air surveillance capabilities to counter potential threats to Egypt and improves its early warning capabilities. Chinese radar systems are distinguished by their ability to integrate with Egypt’s existing air defense systems. Egypt possesses a variety of radar systems from multiple sources (the United States, Russia, and France). The Chinese radar system is distinguished by its ease of integration with existing defense networks, contributing to the formation of a comprehensive operational picture. Chinese radar data can be directed to other air defense systems, such as the Patriot or short- and medium-range defense systems, to accurately intercept threats.
Here, we find that China’s unveiling of the new operating systems and networks for advanced Chinese radars to Egypt, its ally in the Middle East, confirms China’s ambition to dominate the stealth fighter sector in the Middle East in the face of any advanced American military technology for its Israeli ally. It also indicates China’s willingness to offer “cost-effective alternatives to Egypt” to help it diversify its defense partnerships away from traditional suppliers like the United States, which specializes in Israel’s advanced military secrets and technology in confronting all countries in the region without exception. The arrival of this advanced Chinese technology in Egypt is a devastating blow to Tel Aviv and Washington.
From my analytical perspective, Egyptian military cooperation with China in the fields of electronic warfare, radar systems, avionics, and drones is key to the Egyptian army’s military renaissance. This cooperation must be focused on exploring, developing, learning, and bringing expertise in these advanced fields to China and sending Egyptian military missions to China to build technical and military cadres in this context. Military avionics systems are the electronic systems used in aircraft, satellites, and spacecraft. These systems include many important military technologies, such as avionics, communications systems, navigation, display, and multi-system management, among others.
This was revealed by several Israeli media reports regarding Egypt’s acquisition of a deal for Chinese fighter jets equipped with GC-10 air-to-air missiles, each with a range of approximately 300 kilometers and capable of penetrating Tel Aviv across the Israeli border. This has raised joint American and Israeli concerns about the timing of China’s supply of advanced Chinese missile and radar systems to Egypt after the Gaza War, which raises a major question mark for both countries.
The advanced Chinese military radar system represents a pivotal step in Egypt’s long-term endeavor to modernize its defense infrastructure. The Chinese Ministry of Defense expressed its willingness to train and prepare Egyptian military personnel regarding the technical specifications, operational capabilities, and terms of cooperation with these advanced Chinese radars. The importance of advanced Chinese radar technology lies in enhancing surveillance of Egypt’s airspace against any potential intrusion and in supporting and enhancing Egypt’s advanced security, intelligence, and military defense strategies. This is also what the Egyptian Defense Strategy emphasized regarding the importance of advanced radar systems, as these technologies are essential for early detection of threats and efficient allocation of resources to maintain Egyptian national security in the face of any intrusion.
Considering that the Chinese Ministry of Defense extended an invitation to its Egyptian counterpart, represented by the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production, to attend the prestigious Zhuhai Air Show in China, held from November 12 to 17, 2024, which is one of China’s most important global military and defense exhibitions. Held every two years, the show aims to inform stakeholders and China’s military allies, such as Egypt, of all the leading developments in aviation and defense technologies and attract participants from all over the world. By inviting Egypt to the Chinese military air show, China allowed Egypt to explore all of China’s new defense capabilities, particularly through discussions with Chinese officials regarding Egypt’s purchase of an advanced radar system and a potential technology transfer agreement from China to Egypt. The Zhuhai Air Show also witnessed the official debut of the Chinese J-35A, a fifth-generation stealth fighter designed by the “Shenyang Aircraft Corporation” (SAC). This advanced Chinese multi-role fighter is designed for domestic use and export to China’s strategic military partners, including Pakistan and Egypt, according to Chinese announcements.
This has raised growing military concerns in Washington and Tel Aviv, especially after the Chinese Ministry of Defense announced in an official military statement that it would conduct a joint air exercise with Egypt for the first time, dubbed “Civilization Eagle 2025,” in April 2025. This joint Chinese-Egyptian military exercise is considered a strategic step reflecting the escalating level of military cooperation between the two countries, which includes conducting joint flights and exchanging Chinese expertise with Egypt in the fields of air combat and modern military tactics. This is what Israeli military, security, and intelligence circles analyzed, linking it to the recent Gaza war and the increasing pressure exerted by the US administration on Egypt regarding the issue of the forced displacement of Gaza Strip residents to the Egyptian Sinai border. This has been rejected by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, along with the entire Egyptian people, across all sectors.
These joint military exercises and maneuvers between Egypt and China at this time constitute a strict deterrent against potential threats and aggression from external parties, particularly in light of these Israeli provocations on Egypt’s borders, specifically along the Philadelphi Corridor on the Sinai border. Their implications send a clear message from Egypt and China to any external adversary or enemy, indicating their willingness to work together to defend their interests and sovereignty. This contributes to maintaining regional stability, preventing the escalation of future conflicts, and mitigating any pressure that could be exerted on Egyptian national sovereignty regarding the issue of the displacement of Palestinians.
The source of American and Israeli military concern is that this Chinese radar system is similar in capabilities to the Russian S-400 and American Patriot systems, placing it among the world’s most advanced defense systems. This system is considered one of the most advanced stealth technologies and Chinese military manufacturing globally, capable of intercepting and capturing any target from any distance. This is precisely what China actually revealed during the World Radiation Detection and Monitoring Exhibition, revealing a new generation of advanced radar systems, described as “artists at tracking stealth targets,” a direct reference to its ability to counter American dominance in stealth technologies.
The most prominent features of these advanced Chinese radars for Egypt, and the reasons for the Israeli and American concerns about them in a confrontation with Egypt after China supplied them, are that this Chinese system is equipped with a three-dimensional radar capable of tracking more than 100 air targets simultaneously. The same advanced Chinese radar system can also be integrated with several other types of radars, including anti-ballistic missile radars. These Chinese radars were specifically designed to be flexible, as their missiles, radars, and command units are carried on mobile trucks to enhance their survival on the battlefield.
Because of these advanced, high-quality Chinese radars, capable of military concealment using advanced jamming systems, Washington and Tel Aviv are viewing Egypt with caution. This follows China’s export of advanced Chinese radar systems to the Egyptian military, in addition to various modern defense systems from China, including the long-range Chinese HK-9B system, which is known as HK-9B. This Chinese system is similar to the Russian S-400 missile system. As for the advantages of this Chinese system for the Egyptian military, it offers it several advantages, including increasing the engagement range to at least 200 kilometers, enhancing the Egyptian military’s tracking and targeting capabilities, and engaging multiple targets at varying distances.
The announcement of these radars and military systems between Egypt and China carries several messages for Israel, which is monitoring the advanced Chinese radar deal with Egypt. This comes amid growing Israeli caution regarding the involvement of a country like China, a manufacturing power and the third-most powerful military force in the world, which is supplying Egypt with advanced radar systems and simultaneously conducting military exercises with Egypt, the most powerful military force in the Middle East.
Based on the previous military analysis, we find that Chinese radar systems enhance Egypt’s ability to detect air threats without relying on other countries allied with Israel, such as the United States. This increases Egypt’s self-sufficiency in air surveillance and enables effective participation in securing Egypt’s regional airspace, especially in light of the growing security challenges in the region following the recent Gaza war and increasing US pressure on Egypt regarding the displacement of Palestinians to the Egyptian borders of Sinai and Rafah.
