The United States has refused to sell F-35 fighter jets to Egypt, leading the country to explore options with Chinese jets instead. Egypt may consider purchasing Chinese J-10C or FC-31 fighters, as China is interested in selling to Egypt. The US could potentially offer Egypt F-16 or F-15 jets as an alternative. However, Egypt has also purchased French Rafale jets and may consider South Korea’s KF-21 or Turkey’s KAAN fighters. The US is protective of who it sells F-35s to and has strict conditions for countries purchasing them. This situation highlights the delicate balance of Egypt’s relations with both the US and China in the defense industry.
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Egypt is facing a dilemma as the United States has refused to sell F-35 fighter jets to the country. In response, Egypt is considering purchasing fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets from China. This decision comes after the US imposed strict conditions on countries purchasing F-35s, leading to Egypt exploring other options.
It is uncertain which Chinese jets Egypt may opt for, with possibilities including the J-10C fighters or the FC-31 prototype fifth-generation fighter jet. China has an export ban on its most advanced fighter, the J-20 Mighty Dragon, but there are reports that Egypt has expressed interest in purchasing it. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates is also reportedly looking into purchasing Chinese jets due to the US refusing to sell F-35s to the country.
According to experts, China is interested in selling fighter jets to Egypt, hoping that such deals could lead to further transactions for military and defense products. However, there are concerns that Egypt may be cautious about damaging its relations with the US if it chooses to purchase aircraft from China.
In the past, Egypt had an agreement with the US to purchase 20 F-35s in 2018, but this deal was later frozen due to opposition from the US Department of State and Israel. Egypt also attempted to buy Su-30 jets from Russia, but canceled the order out of fear of US sanctions under the CAATSA Act.
Currently, Egypt has purchased 55 French Rafale multirole fighter jets, making it one of the largest export operators of the French aircraft. Moving forward, Egypt may be offered alternatives to the F-35s by the US, such as F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcons or F-15 Strike Eagles. Alternatively, Egypt could wait and consider purchasing South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, which is nearing the end of its development.
It is clear that Egypt’s decisions regarding its fighter jet acquisitions are complex and have geopolitical implications. The US is keen to prevent its allies and partners from purchasing Chinese fighter jets, emphasizing the strategic importance of Egypt’s next steps in its military procurement.
