[By Guancha Observer Network, Ruan Jiaqi]
As the Chinese-made J-10C fighter jet has recently made a big splash on the international stage, South Korean media can't help but feel uneasy: will Egypt, which is currently negotiating the FA-50 fighter jet deal with South Korea, switch to buying Chinese fighters due to the impressive performance of the J-10C?
In an article published on May 12, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo mentioned that China and Egypt have recently conducted their first joint air force training, with the Chinese side sending a powerful lineup that includes the J-10C fighter jet. Almost simultaneously, during the Indo-Pakistani conflict that broke out in early May, as the main fighter jet of the Pakistani Air Force, China's J-10C fighter successfully shot down several Indian aircraft, including French-made "Rafale" fighters, with its outstanding performance instantly drawing global attention.
Egypt is currently negotiating the import of FA-50 light fighters with South Korea. According to analysts cited by South Korean media, South Korea is concerned that after completing this joint air force exercise with China, Egypt's likelihood of importing the Chinese J-10C fighter jets may significantly increase, potentially affecting KAI's FA-50 procurement orders.
On April 19, at an Egyptian airbase, Chinese Air Force J-10C fighters participating in the Sino-Egyptian "Eagle of Civilization-2025" joint air force training conducted exercises with MiG-29 fighters. "China Military Channel" WeChat Official Account.
According to Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang's introduction on May 8, from April 17 to May 4, the air forces of China and Egypt held their first "Eagle of Civilization-2025" joint exercise at an Egyptian airbase. The Chinese Air Force sent J-10C, KJ-500, Y-20, and other aircraft to participate in the exercise, marking the first time they sent a comprehensive force to Africa for joint training.
The joint exercise, lasting 18 days, saw both sides conduct subject training such as air combat, suppression of enemy air defenses, battlefield search and rescue, and mixed formation, and engaged in discussions and exchanges on training models, air combat tactics, and aerial refueling.
From the time span perspective, this is the second visit of the Chinese Air Force to Egypt within 9 months.
Last August, at the invitation of the Egyptian Air Force, the Chinese Air Force sent seven J-10 demonstration aircraft of the August First Aerobatic Team and one Y-20 aircraft to participate in the first Egypt Air Show, and flew over the pyramids, leaving a historical witness to the deep friendship between China and Egypt.
CCTV News pointed out that unlike these performance displays, in the Sino-Egyptian "Eagle of Civilization-2025" joint air force exercise, the Chinese side sent a powerful lineup consisting of various current main models, including single-seat version J-10C, dual-seat version J-10S, Y-20, KJ-500, helicopters, etc.
The report noted that the participating military aircraft not only came from frontline units but also had the aircraft selection and grouping closely aligned with actual combat: there were fighter jets used to seize air superiority, as well as tankers and helicopters responsible for logistics support and emergency rescue. The addition of KJ-500 particularly significantly enhanced the practical level of the entire unit.
On April 28, at an Egyptian airbase, Chinese Air Force pilots participating in the Sino-Egyptian "Eagle of Civilization-2025" joint air force training boarded J-10C aircraft to prepare for night flight training. Central Radio and Television Station Military Channel.
Although the Chinese Defense Ministry had debunked rumors in February, denying reports that "Egyptian Air Force has already received the first batch of Chinese J-10 fighters," South Korean media cited analysts as saying that this joint exercise sends a signal that "Egypt is seriously considering the introduction of the J-10C."
Chosun Ilbo emphasized that especially in the recent Indo-Pakistani conflict, China's J-10 fighter jets have demonstrated excellent combat performance.
After the brief "air battle" on May 7 between India and Pakistan, successive statements from Pakistan, France, and the United States have mutually confirmed a fact: the Pakistani Air Force dispatched the Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets, successfully shooting down several Indian aircraft, including the French-made "Rafale" fighter jets.
The J-10C is an upgraded version of the J-10 series, equipped with better engines and more advanced AESA radars, capable of firing PL-15 missiles. Both the French "Rafale" and the J-10C are typically considered "4.5th generation" fighters, representing the cutting edge of current fighter technology.
As the only country to purchase this model, Pakistan ordered 36 export-type J-10CE fighter jets and 250 PL-15E missiles in 2020, with the first six delivered in 2022, bringing the total number of active units to 20. The low-altitude export version of the PL-15 missile publicly displayed at the 2021 Zhuhai Airshow has a maximum range of 145 kilometers.
Despite India's persistent refusal to confirm this, like most global media outlets, Chosun Ilbo also pointed out that if Pakistan's claims are true, it would mark the first time the J-10 series fighter jets have successfully defeated Western advanced fighter jets in actual combat. Analysts stated that凭借其仅为 Western fighter jets one-third cost advantage, China's opportunity to export J-10C fighters to other countries will significantly increase.
A South Korean defense industry insider said, "Now, China's advantages in price, politics, and diplomacy are increasingly prominent."
In this context, some in South Korea have become increasingly worried that Egypt might introduce the J-10C, which could impact South Korea's FA-50 fighter jet orders. Just recently, South Korean media reported that negotiations between Egypt and South Korea regarding the import of FA-50 fighters have entered the "final stage," with predictions suggesting that Egypt might introduce up to 100 FA-50 fighters.
According to foreign media reports, the Egyptian Air Force is the largest in the Middle East region, with a fleet consisting of American, Russian, and French fighter jets. Due to frequent restrictions from Washington and other Western countries in recent years, Cairo is urgently seeking alternative solutions for advanced military equipment to strengthen strategic autonomy and avoid excessive reliance on a single supplier.
India's Eurasian Times analyzed that prior to this Sino-Egyptian joint exercise, speculation about Egypt possibly purchasing J-10C fighter jets has been ongoing for several months. If Egypt seeks a more performance-advantaged U.S. F-16 replacement model, the J-10C fighter jets will remain a strong competitor to the FA-50.
The U.S. military news website "The War Zone" also pointed out that Egypt may be interested in other Chinese models, including China's increasingly diverse and advanced airborne early warning aircraft—some of which were deployed to Egypt during this joint exercise. Additionally, the Y-20 tanker may also pique Egypt's interest.
This article is an exclusive contribution from the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7504521914740687397/
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