A giant Chinese transport planes were monitored in Egypt amid reports of air and defense military deals between the two sides
Chinese planes, including Y-20A and YY-20A, left Egypt after a military mission with reports of air deals and air defense between Cairo and Beijing, including J-10C fighters and HQ-9B systems.
Arab Defense website-August 23, 2025: Recently returned to China from Egypt from the Chinese Air Force Air Force fleet (PLAF), which included the two Y-20A charging planes carrying 7A446F and 7 A4403 serial numbers, in addition to a YY-20A air supply number with a registration number 20543 (Hex 7A444F). This journey, which was monitored by military observers, comes at a time when military relations between Egypt and China are witnessing noticeable developments, especially in the fields of air force and air defense.
Reports indicate that Cairo and Beijing are studying or have concluded deals that include advanced J-10C fighters, as well as HQ-9B air defense systems, which reflects Egypt’s desire to enhance its weather capabilities and raise the level of its defense readiness. This step is in line with Egypt’s endeavor to enhance the diversity of its armament sources and update its air systems in line with regional and security requirements.
These moves also come within the framework of security and technical rapprochement between the two countries, where such cooperation allows the exchange of technical expertise, increased integration in maintenance and training, as well as developing the capabilities of the Egyptian armed forces at the strategic and tactical levels.
China Plave convoy returns from Egypt
2 x Y-20A Cargo Plane (hex 7A446F & 7A4403)
1 x YY-20A Tanker Plane (reg 20543 hex 7A444F) pic.twitter.com/Hm5czspbd5
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) August 21, 2025
It is noteworthy that the Egyptian Air Force tested the capabilities of the Chinese fighter Chengdu 10C during joint exercises with China under the name “Eagles of Civilization 2025”, which was launched at the Wadi Abu Al-Rish air base. This experience comes within the framework of the direct evaluation of the performance of Chinese fighters in the face of Egyptian Mig-29M/M2 aircraft.
The Chinese side participated in the J-10C and 10B aircraft, which provided a rare opportunity to direct comparison between the capabilities of the two fighters in a common training environment.
J-10C is classified as a multi-task-engine fighter, within the 4.5 generation, and the service entered around 2018 as a developed version of the J-10 series, which started its first journey in 1998. This fighter operates with a Chinese-made WS-10B engine, with a power of payment of about 31,000 pounds with subsequent burning, while the oldest models were using Russian AL-31FN engines. Its speed reaches 1.8 Mach, or about 2,200 km/h at high altitudes.
As for the range, the diameter of the fighting is about 550-1,000 km, depending on the load and fuel tanks, while its maximum range reaches about 3,200 km. The fighter is a homemade AESA radar, with an estimate range between 100 and 150 km for targets the size of the fighters.
J-10C has limited ghost capabilities, including an audio air entrance without a barrier and radar paint, but it is not classified as a fully ghost plane. It also has 11 suspension points to carry weapons and ammunition with a weight of up to 5,600 kg, with the adoption of the PL-15 missile as a major weapon in maneuvering and training.
The fighter design, which combines the Delta and Kanard wing and the Fly -By-Wire control system, enhances its high maneuvering ability, especially at low speeds, making it an effective platform in modern air fighting scenarios.
Egypt is entering the Chinese air defense system HQ-9B service?
The Egyptian army has officially announced the entry of the SQ-9B Service, in a move that reflects Cairo’s endeavor to enhance its defense capabilities and diversify the sources of arming them away from the West.
The statements of Major General Samir Faraj, the prominent military commander and former director of the Department of Moral Affairs, during his appearance on the “Echo of the Country” channel, sparked widespread attention in the Israeli media, after the disclosure of the Egyptian army’s possession of the SQ-9B Chinese air defense system, which prompted the military analysis circles in Israel to follow the developments closely.
The Israeli anxiety came after Major General Samir Faraj announced that the Egyptian armed forces have become a variety of modern air defense systems, including long-range HQ-9B, which likened its efficiency to the one provided by the Russian S-400 system.
This announcement is the first official confirmation of the entry of HQ-9B active service within the Egyptian air defenses, in a move that reflects Cairo’s keenness to diversify the sources of arming them and enhance its defense capabilities.
The developed version of the system has advanced capabilities compared to previous versions, where each platform can launch eight light and high-efficiency surface-to-air missiles, compared to four missiles in the older versions. HQ-9B is classified as one of the most powerful Chinese air defense systems, because of its superior ability to monitor and intercede air threats at long distances and high altitudes, including modern aircraft, cruise missiles and drones.
With a range of 300 km, and the ability to deal with multiple threats, including winged aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles, HQ-9B is highly strengthening Egyptian air defense, making it an influential element in the complex geopolitical scene in the Middle East.
This development raised Israel’s concern, which depends on air superiority via F-35 fighters and AIM-120 missiles, as HQ-9B capabilities may be complicated to monitor the ghost targets, the implementation of Israeli operations near the Egyptian airspace. This anxiety increases the Egyptian military expansion, including the Chinese J-10C fighters equipped with long-range air-to-air missiles, which reflects Egypt’s desire to achieve the greater strategic independence and budget of regional powers.
The Egyptian trend towards China reflects Cairo’s desire to obtain advanced technology without political restrictions, after the restrictions of the United States and France to arm Egypt with its fighters and modern missiles. The acquisition of HQ-9B is part of a growing defense partnership with Beijing, which also includes Wing Loong-1D aircraft, and may later extend to J-35 and J-20 fighters.
The impact of this regional transformation remains clear, as HQ-9B enhances Egypt’s deterrent capabilities and expands the margin of its maneuvers, while it is a new challenge to Israel’s military superiority, and it highlights the escalating role of China as a major arms provider in the Middle East.
The article appeared to monitor giant Chinese transport planes in Egypt amid reports of air and defense military deals between the two sides first on the Arab defense site.
