28-05-2025
U.S. Ally Looks to Buy Chinese J-35 Stealth Jets
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Egypt, traditionally a U.S. ally, could be seeking to acquire Chinese J-35 fighter jets, according to aviation and defense outlets.
Newsweek has contacted the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) for comment.
Why It Matters
The J-35 fighter jet, modeled after the American F-35, is gaining more appeal as China, competing with the U.S., seeks to expand its influence in South Asia, the Middle East and the broader Arab region.
A Chinese-made Shenyang J-35A fighter jet flies during the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai on November 15, 2024.
A Chinese-made Shenyang J-35A fighter jet flies during the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai on November 15, 2024.
HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images
What To Know
Egyptian Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Abdel Gawad has reportedly shown interest in China's J-35 stealth fighter, according to the Belgian-based Army Recognition Group, which specializes in military analysis.
Reports have not been confirmed by the Egyptian or Chinese authorities.
Retired Egyptian Army Major General Sayed Ghoneim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi-based Institute for Global Security and Defense Affairs (IGSDA), was seen inspecting a model of a J-35 during an event earlier this month marking 45 years of military ties with China.
📸 Chinese delegation in Cairo promoting 5th generation J-35 fighter jet to the Egyptian Air Force.
J-10C also visible at the back. — Clash Report (@clashreport) May 11, 2025
According to Ghoneim, Egypt may be pushing against the United States, which has hindered the upgrade and upkeep of Egypt's fighter jet fleet.
"This move could also be aimed at pressuring the U.S. to be more flexible with Egypt's requests for advanced fighter jets—especially given Washington's disregard for Egypt's security concerns during Israel's recent war on Gaza, and its insistence that its weapons not be used by any country against U.S. allies," Ghoneim told Newsweek.
Egypt's push to modernize its aging F-16 fleet is constrained by financial hurdles and further complicated by restrictive terms attached to Western weapon systems.
Pakistan, which faces similar restrictions on its F-16 fleet, and has turned to China, its close partner to counter Indian threats. In recent clashes, it reportedly deployed Chinese J-10C jets against Indian aircraft. J-10s were also recently deployed during China-Egypt's first joint air force exercise.
What People Are Saying
Retired Egyptian army officer Sayed Ghoneim said of possible moves to acquire J-35s: "This could reduce the share of American weaponry in the Egyptian military—a shift that might ripple across other markets in the region and beyond, as Egypt is considered a key reference point for countries assessing the quality of global weapons systems. This was evident with Egypt's acquisition of the French Rafale, and especially in light of its openness to importing arms from other countries such as South Korea and Germany, as well as purchasing components from various other sources."
Army Recognition Group said: "Still, a key question remains: Would China be willing to export such a sensitive asset as the J-35 to a country like Egypt? While the aircraft is officially intended for foreign markets, delivering a fifth-generation stealth fighter to a military historically aligned with the U.S. would mark a significant strategic shift. For Beijing, it could represent a way to break into a region traditionally dominated by Western influence. However, it also entails political and technological risks, especially given Egypt's interoperability with NATO systems."
What Happens Next
According to state media, Egypt's prime minister said China's President Xi Jinping is expected to visit his country, describing this as "a turning point" for stronger cooperation amid global and regional instability—though no dates were officially announced.
