China Struggling To Attract Middle Eastern Buyers For Its Fighter Jets

Forbes

07-05-2025

China's J-10 fighter jets are on display during the first edition of the Egypt International Airshow ... More at El Alamein International Airport in El Dabaa, Egypt, Sept. 3, 2024. (Photo by Wang Dongzhen/Xinhua via Getty Images) Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
China concluded its first joint air force training exercise in Egypt on Sunday. The exercise saw the People's Liberation Army Air Force deploy advanced fighter jets, early warning aircraft, and tankers. The imagery of these Chinese aircraft flying in formation over the picturesque pyramids resembled a flashy advertisement for the Middle East and North African arms export market.
The Egyptian military announced the launch of the joint Eagles of Civilization – 2025 exercise on April 19. The stated aim of the exercise was 'to boost operational coordination and exchange expertise between the two air forces, while enhancing the readiness of pilots and crews for a range of combat scenarios.'
China's Global Times newspaper confirmed Monday that the exercise had concluded the previous day. China had sent its indigenous fourth-generation Chengdu J-10C fighter jet, the KJ-500 early warning aircraft, and the YU-20 tanker—the latter refueled a Russian-built Egyptian MiG-29 fighter.
Beijing undoubtedly welcomed the opportunity to demonstrate its military's logistical capability to readily deploy advanced aircraft thousands of miles away and train with a friendly military. Politically, it was another way to compete with the United States for regional influence—Washington and Cairo have led the biennial Bright Star military exercises hosted in Egypt since 1980. It was also an opportunity for Beijing to market its military hardware and win potential export deals in the lucrative arms market of that region.
Chinese J-10C fighters previously participated in the first Egypt International Air Show in September 2024, the first time China showcased the fighter on the African continent. Beijing showcased the J-10C in the Middle East in November 2023, when seven J-10Cs of PLAAF's August 1st Aerobatics Team performed at the Dubai Airshow.
Despite showcasing this formidable fighter at such events, China has had zero success exporting the J-10 for years, only recently selling some to its close and longstanding ally, Pakistan.
Recurring rumors in recent months indicate that Egypt could become the second export customer for the J-10. China officially denied reports in February that Cairo had received the aircraft. Whatever the case, Egyptian interest in the J-10C does make a lot of sense. The North African power has long had a diversified fleet of American, French, Russian, and Chinese fighter jets—buying several third-generation J-6 and J-7 fighters in the 1970s and 1980s.
Furthermore, Egypt has long been irked by the U.S. refusal to sell AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. The lack of AIM-120s has severely undermined the air defense capabilities of Egypt's F-16s, especially compared to other F-16 fleets in the wider region. Until 2019, the U.S. even objected to France supplying Egypt with the long-range Meteor air-to-air missile for the Dassault Rafales Cairo first bought in 2015. Egypt also canceled a deal for Russian Su-35 Flanker fighters it ordered in 2018 under threat of U.S. sanctions.
Consequently, Cairo would undoubtedly welcome a no-strings-attached sale of J-10Cs, especially if it included the long-range Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missile.
Beijing sold several Middle Eastern countries and Egypt its indigenous armed drones, especially in the 2010s, when the U.S. was reluctant to export drones and other long-range munitions. However, Western fighter jets still dominate the Middle East market.
China recently sold the United Arab Emirates L-15 trainer jets. In another significant symbolic move, the PLAAF and the UAE Air Force held a joint training exercise for the second time in mid-2024. Nevertheless, the UAE still operates a predominantly American and French-equipped air force—Abu Dhabi opted to order 80 Rafale F4s from France in December 2021—and it seems unlikely it will turn to Beijing for high-end fighters anytime soon.
Iran was reportedly interested in acquiring a fleet of 36 J-10Cs to modernize its aged air force in recent years. In that case, Beijing was unsatisfied with Tehran's proposal to pay for the 4.5-generation jets with oil. Iran is presently awaiting delivery of Russian Su-35 jets, and it's unclear whether it will seek the J-10C again in the foreseeable future.
China co-developed the JF-17 Thunder with Pakistan. As with the J-10C, the JF-17 Block III is a vast improvement over earlier models, boosting an advanced active electronically scanned array radar and other features found on high-end 4.5-generation jets.
Pakistan similarly hoped to attract Middle East buyers for the JF-17. In February 2025, Pakistani Air Force JF-17s participated in Exercise Spears of Victory-2025 in Saudi Arabia. The Pakistani fighters demonstrated their long-range capabilities through 'a non-stop flight from their home base in Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and back.'
For a time, it seemed the aircraft might have won some customers. Reports emerged in 2014 that Saudi Arabia was considering the JF-17 as part of a larger deal, including technology transfers and co-production. No such deal has since materialized over a decade later.
Reports emerged in the early 2020s that Iraq was considering ordering a dozen JF-17s while Baghdad was also exploring buying a similar number of Rafales. It now seems Iraq may only proceed with its order for the widely exported French aircraft. Further afield, Pakistan recently had some success selling JF-17 Block IIIs to Azerbaijan, which received its first JF-17 in September 2024.
J-10Cs and JF-17s will undoubtedly make more appearances in Middle East skies in the future. Whether any of the regional countries hosting them will ultimately decide to purchase any of them very much remains to be seen.