Egypt buys advanced Chengdu J-10C Fighter Jets, rejects F-16 Fighting Falcon Upgrade.

Egypt appears to have refused an offer from the United States to upgrade its fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets to the Viper level, citing Egypt's status as an ally exclusively in the Middle East. As of right present, the Egyptian Air Force is known to be using about 200 F-16s in different configurations. Egypt has decided to buy fighter jets from China rather than prolonging the life of the "Fighting Falcon."

According to reports, China's fourth-generation fighter jet, the Chengdu J-10C, was ordered for the first time by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense. With the Pyramid State's admission into the BRICS alliance early last year, Cairo's continued attempts to strengthen strategic and commercial ties with Beijing are highlighted by this decision.

Egypt has acquired the J-10C, making it the second nation to do so after Pakistan. Egypt's old F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet is planned to be gradually phased out in favor of the J-10C.

There is much conjecture that Egypt chose to buy the J-10C rather than accept the US proposal for an F-16V upgrade package. For around the same price as the upgraded F-16 model, the J-10C is a more capable fighter.

The majority of Egypt's fourth-generation fighter aircraft, such as the Rafale and Mirage 2000, are Western-made. Furthermore, the acquisition of J-10C fighter jets is a big shift that reflects the shifting political climate.

Advanced fourth-generation air-to-air missiles like the PL-10 and PL-15, which are thought to have a range of up to 300 kilometers, can be carried by the all-weather fighter jet J-10C. This Chinese aircraft is reportedly the most potent single-engine fighter in the world while it is still in development. The Taihang WS-10B engine, which China developed on its own, can power the J-10C. Currently, the J-10C is among China's most sophisticated fighter aircraft. It's even been compared by some commentators to the Dassault Rafale.

According to recent sources, Cairo officials expressed increasing concerns over Israel's military activities in Gaza, which are supported by the West, which is why they selected the J-10C. Cairo officials worry that Gazans may be forced to flee to Egypt as a result of these activities.

This potential purchase is particularly significant in light of Egypt's existing fighter jet force, which has long been viewed as being ill-equipped to handle a significant interstate conflict.

F-16A (32 units), F-16B (8 units), F-16C (136 units), and F-16D (42 units) are presently in service with the Egyptian Air Force. Egypt's F-16s are thought to be among the world's least effective fourth-generation fighter jets, despite their sheer quantity. Egypt's F-16s are severely reduced and equipped only with antiquated Cold War weapons, totally devoid of contemporary long-range air-to-surface capabilities, as a result of pressure from Israel to the US.

Furthermore, there was a notable decline in performance of the fighter jets Rafale, which were ordered in 2015 and provided by France. Most significantly, their combat potential is severely restricted by the lack of Meteor air-to-air missiles.

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