In July 2025, Cairo witnessed the appointment of Colonel Wu Qian, the former spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, as the new defense attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, reflecting the strategic importance Beijing attaches to this matter. Chinese military, security, and defense reports indicate that these relations with Egypt and its Ministry of Defense have transcended mere arms deals, evolving into a “comprehensive strategic partnership” aimed at enhancing the tactical and technical capabilities of both the Egyptian and Chinese militaries.
Furthermore, official military websites affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Defense and the People’s Liberation Army highlighted joint Egyptian-Chinese military manufacturing operations and Egyptian President “Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s desire to localize and transfer Chinese military technology”, as well as to establish a manufacturing base for advanced defense systems in Cairo. Chinese sources expressed their welcome of President El-Sisi’s interest in localizing defense industries and transferring advanced Chinese military technology to Cairo. With China highlighting several memoranda of understanding between the “Arab Organization for Industrialization” (AOI) and Chinese military companies, such as NORINCO & Shadow Wings, for technology transfer and the localization of advanced Chinese defense systems manufacturing in Egypt, this coincided with a celebration by the Egyptian Air Force and the Chinese company “CATIC” in May 2025, marking the arrival of new Chinese fighter jets in Cairo, while local production of K-8 training aircraft continues in Egypt.
In this context, reports issued by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense and the People’s Liberation Army “PLA” (MOD & China Military Online) and several official PLA military websites highlighted a significant strategic development in their relationship with the Egyptian military during 2025 and 2026. This included the growing Chinese military interest in the efforts of the China National Defense University to build long-term ties with Egyptian military leaders (colonel and above) to exchange strategic military thought and build a “future military elite” with Egypt, African countries, and the Global South. By 2026, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense highlighted the military relations between Egypt and China as a model of strategic partnership encompassing advanced field and technological coordination between the two sides. This cooperation includes joint air exercises such as “Civilization Eagles” and discussions on defense deals such as long-range air defense systems and Type 039A submarines.
It is worth noting that much of the news regarding China’s military, security, and defense relations with Egypt is typically covered under the “News Release” or “Military Cooperation tab” on the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Defense. These Chinese military websites have discussed the significant strategic development in military relations between Egypt and China in 2025 and 2026, bolstered by joint exercises like “Civilization Eagles,” the localization of Chinese military defense technology in Egypt, and the transfer of advanced Chinese drones and radars. The aim, according to Chinese strategic and media reports covering the years 2025 and 2026, is to diversify Egypt’s sources of weaponry and enhance Chinese influence. This was highlighted in a report published on the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, titled “Operational Capabilities,” in which the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, affirmed that: “The joint Egyptian-Chinese military exercise tested the capabilities of the Chinese Air Force in rapid deployment and long-range conventional operations in Africa.”
The most important Chinese military news and reports regarding military cooperation deals with Egypt are as follows (mod.gov.cn). The official website of the Chinese Ministry of Defense published several recent reports during 2025 and 2026, addressing intensive military cooperation with the Egyptian army. The most prominent of these reports is the joint Chinese-Egyptian air exercise, “Civilization Eagles 2025” (April-May 2025). The official website of the Chinese Ministry of Defense documented the launch of the “Civilization Eagles 2025 exercise” in April 2025, the first joint air exercise between the air forces of the two countries to be held in Egypt. In addition to what Chinese military reports highlighted and included regarding the signing of memoranda of understanding between the Arab Organization for Industrialization in Egypt and Chinese defense companies, such as Norinco and Shadow Wings, to localize advanced defense systems technology and transform Egypt into a regional manufacturing hub. Cooperation plans between Egypt and China also include the transfer of Chinese drone technology to Cairo, such as the ASN-209, and the training of Egyptian technicians on the maintenance of advanced military engines, such as the WS-10B.
Furthermore, Chinese military reports issued by the Ministry of Defense and the People’s Liberation Army emphasized the intensification of Chinese military participation and the unprecedented scale and scope of military cooperation with Egypt. A published Chinese military report mentioned China sending several diverse formations to enhance the readiness and capabilities of the Egyptian army, including J-10C fighter jets, the early warning aircraft “KJ-500,” and the refueling aircraft “YY-20.”
Here, published Chinese military reports focused on enhancing the tactical and technical capabilities of the Egyptian army by outlining joint plans for Chinese-Egyptian military exercises agreed upon during the “Eagles of Civilization” maneuvers. These exercises included air superiority operations, aerial refueling, and battlefield search and rescue. Furthermore, the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Defense described the strategic importance of cooperation with its Egyptian counterpart. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Zhang Xiaogang described this joint Egyptian-Chinese military exercise as a “milestone” in strengthening mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two armies. This is due to the focus of this military exercise between China and Egypt on tactical dimensions and objectives, which included training in air superiority operations, suppression of enemy air defenses “SEAD)” battlefield search and rescue, and aerial refueling.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense and the People’s Liberation Army website (China Military Online) highlighted several topics related to the Egyptian Armed Forces focused on the “Eagles of Civilization 2025” training exercise, according to official statements released by the Chinese Ministry of Defense regarding the launch of the first-ever joint air exercise between the two countries (Eagles of Civilization 2025). The spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, confirmed that this exercise enhances technical and tactical capabilities and deepens the fundamental cooperation between the two armies. Chinese military reports and analyses also pointed to a number of arms deals and the acquisition of modern and advanced technologies with Egypt. These reports and analyses, coinciding with the launch of the EDEX 2025 exhibition in China, indicated Egypt’s interest in the Chinese J-10C fighter jet, and their appearance in official Egyptian videos reinforced discussions about potential contracts and military arms deals between Egypt and China. It also revealed that recent Chinese military reports indicate that Egypt possesses the Chinese HQ-9B long-range air defense system and advanced Chinese radars.
The leadership of the People’s Liberation Army’s National Defense University (PLA) is working to build and prepare the Egyptian military elite through cooperation with several Egyptian military and academic institutions, most notably the Nasser Higher Military Academy (later renamed the Higher Military Academy for Postgraduate Studies and Research). This is according to me as an Egyptian scholar and expert specializing in Chinese politics and the policies of the ruling Communist Party of China. My analysis, based on several Chinese military, defense, and security reports, reveals China’s efforts to strengthen educational and academic ties with Egyptian leaders through joint training and military programs at the “PLA.” These programs aim to present Chinese military thought as a strategic alternative to traditional American and Western military training.
Furthermore, several official Chinese military websites have published reports, some confirming and others denying, regarding potential arms deals with Egypt. In February 2025, the official website of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense quoted several statements by the ministry’s spokesperson, Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, describing the news circulating about the export of Chinese J-10CE fighter jets to Egypt as “completely false and contrary to the facts.”
A Chinese military source involved in Chinese-Egyptian military cooperation also indicated the integration of the advanced Chinese HQ-9B air defense system, a competitor to the Russian S-400 system, into the Egyptian military infrastructure.
Furthermore, Chinese military reports from the Chinese Ministry of National Defense and the People’s Liberation Army’s National Defense University addressed the mutual military compatibility between China and Egypt in areas such as joint military academic training and the exchange of expertise. The Chinese military, in its official reports, focused on the participation of Egyptian officers and military personnel in the International Cadet Week in China and the participation of students from Egyptian military colleges in the “Sixth International Cadet Week in Xi’an, China,” in November 2025. This participation aimed to enhance academic exchange between China and Egypt and build relationships between future military leaders. Several Chinese military reports also included photos from visits by various Egyptian military delegations to China, highlighting the Chinese Ministry of Defense’s hosting of a delegation of Egyptian officers as part of a group that included 40 African countries in May 2025. This visit aimed to strengthen the “China-Egypt-Africa Community of Shared Future” with a focus on practical military cooperation.
Published Chinese military reports, specifically those concerning joint manufacturing between China and Egypt for 2025-2026, focus on deepening Egyptian-Chinese cooperation in local military manufacturing sectors and transferring and localizing Chinese military technology in Cairo, as expressed by President “El-Sisi” to the Chinese side. This is particularly relevant in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as the Wing Loong-1D. The reports also mention the transfer of naval technology, with ongoing Chinese-Egyptian military negotiations regarding (Type 093A submarine) deals continuing until 2026.
Here, several analyses and reports published by official and semi-official Chinese military platforms between 2025 and 2026 indicate an expansion in military defense deals between Egypt and China. These reports noted the commencement of operations of the Chinese HQ-9B long-range air defense system in Egypt as an alternative or complement to Western systems.
The reports also mentioned advanced discussions regarding joint manufacturing of advanced military technology between Egypt and China, including the transfer of advanced Chinese radar and missile systems technology. For example, they cited Chinese cooperation with Egypt in developing the Egyptian “Raad-300” system, which will utilize Chinese bomber technologies. Furthermore, some Chinese military reports indicated the continuation of negotiations with Egypt, expected to conclude by 2026, for Egypt and its Ministry of Defense to acquire Chinese submarines, particularly Type 039A-class submarines, to bolster Egyptian naval capabilities.
Accordingly, we recognize that these Egyptian-Chinese military relations have emerged on the official websites of the Chinese Ministry of Defense and the People’s Liberation Army as a growing strategic military partnership. The recent period (2025-2026) witnessed significant developments focused on “localizing Chinese technology in Egypt” and unprecedented joint exercises between the two sides. The Chinese Ministry of Defense describes this as follows: “Egypt is a key strategic partner for China in Africa and the Middle East.” Furthermore, official Chinese sources, through their military websites, confirm that military cooperation with Egypt now transcends traditional sales deals, reaching a “substantive level” encompassing the planning of complex operations and tactical training.
