Cairo Eyes Chinese Stealth: Egypt Emerges as Potential Buyer of J-35A Fifth-Gen Fighter

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — During the recently concluded joint aerial exercise between China and Egypt, a high-ranking Egyptian Air Force commander publicly expressed keen interest in Beijing’s next-generation stealth fighter, the J-35A, underscoring a potential pivot in Cairo’s strategic airpower ambitions.

Lieutenant General Mahmoud Fuad Abdel Gawad, a senior commander within the Egyptian Air Force, reportedly conveyed his strong interest in the fifth-generation J-35A stealth platform during the “Eagle of Civilization” joint air drills held between the two nations.

According to regional defence outlets based in North Africa, the Egyptian commander made his comments during the exercise held at Wadi Abu Rish Air Base, a facility that has become the focal point of intensifying Sino-Egyptian military cooperation.

In a further indication of strategic intent, Lt Gen Mahmoud expressed his desire to visit China for a first-hand evaluation of the J-35A fighter, signaling potential Egyptian interest in acquiring the aircraft for future air force modernization.

While Cairo and Beijing have not officially confirmed the report, the episode reflects a significant uptick in bilateral defence engagement as China leverages joint exercises to expand its strategic footprint across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The joint air drills, dubbed “Eagle of Civilization 2025,” were held in April and marked the first-ever large-scale military air cooperation between the Egyptian Armed Forces and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense framed the exercise as a landmark initiative designed to “promote practical cooperation and enhance friendship and mutual trust,” placing heavy emphasis on interoperability and strategic alignment between the two air forces.

“This is the first joint military exercise between the two countries, and it is crucial in fostering pragmatic cooperation and enhancing friendship and mutual trust,” the ministry stated, highlighting Beijing’s commitment to expanding its military-to-military diplomacy with MENA nations.

For the historic drills, China deployed a trio of high-value aerial platforms: the J-10C multirole fighter jet, the YU-20 aerial refuelling tanker, and, notably, the KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft—a critical enabler of network-centric warfare.

This deployment marks the first time China has ever sent the KJ-500 AEW&C platform to participate in a joint aerial exercise on foreign soil, reflecting Beijing’s growing confidence in showcasing its airborne command-and-control architecture abroad.

The exercise, which ran from mid-April into early May at Wadi Abu Rish, also served as a platform to demonstrate China’s expanding airpower diplomacy and the export viability of its next-gen aircraft.

Cairo’s engagement in these exercises coincides with growing reports suggesting the Egyptian Air Force is considering acquiring up to 40 J-10CE fighters, a modern Chinese export variant of the J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” equipped with the potent PL-15 beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile.

The J-10CE, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, offers cost-effective yet highly capable multirole combat performance, making it an attractive option for air forces seeking alternatives to Western platforms amidst geopolitical and financial constraints.

In a related development, China’s J-35A—its second fifth-generation stealth fighter after the J-20—reportedly conducted its first official flight a few days ago as part of a long-anticipated mass production rollout.

Imagery and video of the aircraft flying over a Chinese urban centre have gone viral on local social media, hinting at Beijing’s readiness to introduce the jet into active service or foreign demonstrations.

Produced by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), the J-35A is designed for both domestic and export markets, with Pakistan widely rumoured to be its first international customer—part of China’s broader strategy to proliferate stealth capabilities among strategic partners.

A lead designer at SAC’s Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute, a key unit under China’s state-owned aviation conglomerate AVIC, detailed several of the fighter’s advanced systems in a December interview with Global Times.

“Given that end-users are demanding higher standards of stealth capability, the aircraft developers have implemented a range of new technologies and systems.”

“Throughout the development process, significant progress and numerous innovations have been achieved across various aspects of aircraft technology,” he said, referring to stealth optimizations and advanced avionics integration.

The J-35A is engineered for stealth operations in contested airspace, designed to counter both fourth- and fifth-generation adversaries while conducting precision strikes on enemy air defence networks and critical ground targets.

According to SAC engineers, the aircraft’s mission set includes intercepting enemy aircraft, bombers, and cruise missiles, asserting dominance across both aerial and surface domains.

The platform forms a cornerstone of China’s ambition to build a scalable, stealth-centric fighter force capable of displacing U.S. and allied air superiority in future high-intensity conflicts.

Featuring twin engines and a single-seat cockpit, the J-35A employs low-observable design principles, extensive digital avionics, and seamless sensor fusion for battlefield integration.

As a networked battle coordinator, the J-35A is engineered to acquire, process, and relay targeting information in real time—enabling synchronized engagements with surface-based missile systems and other air assets to neutralize stealth and low-RCS threats.

The internal weapons bay supports long-range munitions such as the PL-17, enabling deep penetration strike capability without compromising the aircraft’s radar profile—key for operations in heavily defended zones.

Its sensor suite includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and distributed infrared and optical sensors, offering comprehensive situational awareness and multi-domain lethality akin to the U.S. F-35’s “quarterback” role in network-centric warfare.

Externally, the J-35A is shaped for stealth and aerodynamic performance, with a smooth fuselage, V-tail configuration, and serrated edge panels designed to reduce radar signature and aerodynamic drag.

Unlike the canard-configured J-20, the J-35A adopts a more conventional tail setup with canted vertical stabilizers, striking a balance between maneuverability and low observability.

Its dual-engine layout offers superior thrust and redundancy compared to single-engine designs like the F-35, albeit with a slight tradeoff in radar cross-section due to its larger frame.

Stealth is further enhanced through the use of radar-absorbent materials (RAM), flush-mounted sensors, low-IR exhaust management, and smooth airframe transitions that minimize signature from all observable spectra.

Operationally, the J-35A is positioned to replace legacy fighters such as the J-7, J-8, and older J-10 variants, enabling China to field a modern air force capable of executing joint-domain operations across Asia and beyond.

In addition to the land-based version, China is developing a carrier-based variant of the J-35, designed for naval operations aboard PLA Navy aircraft carriers like the Type 003 “Fujian,” emphasizing its multi-domain flexibility.

In the broader regional context, Egypt’s growing interest in Chinese stealth technology comes as several Middle Eastern nations explore alternatives to Western military platforms due to shifting political alignments, arms embargoes, or cost-efficiency considerations.

With strategic theatres in the Middle East becoming increasingly multipolar—featuring U.S., Russian, Turkish, and now Chinese defence players—Cairo’s potential embrace of the J-35A could signal a larger shift in alliance structures and military supply chains in the region.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA