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AllAfrica
20-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
China's J-35A courting buyers barred from US F-35s
China's stealthy new J-35 fighter isn't just a plane. It is a signal to US allies and others that China is prepared to arm those frustrated by US delays and conditions attached to its military aircraft deliveries. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that China unveiled a scale model of its latest fifth-generation fighter, the J-35A, at the 55th Paris Air Show. The exhibition, organized by China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), marked the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation-developed fighter's first overseas appearance and comes amid a strategic Chinese push for more overseas arms sales. First flown in September 2023 and initially designed for carrier operations, the J-35A is positioned as China's second fifth-generation jet after the export-restricted J-20. CATIC has reportedly offered 40 units to Pakistan, which, if concluded, would potentially be the platform's first foreign sale. Alongside the J-35A, CATIC promoted the 4.5-generation J-10CE, which is already operational in Pakistan and was reportedly employed in May during India's Operation Sindoor, where it downed at least two Indian-flown Rafale fighters. China's JF-17, jointly developed with Pakistan and used by Azerbaijan, Myanmar and Nigeria, was also on display at the Paris Air Show. The air power showcase highlights China's intention to capitalize on geopolitical rifts and defense partnerships to expand its fighter exports, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East, amid growing demand for advanced, cost-competitive combat platforms outside NATO-aligned spheres. Saudi Arabia is a case in point. Unable to acquire the US-made F-35 and wary of American conditions attached to aircraft sales, Riyadh may view China's J-35 as an appealing hedge amid growing doubts about the US's long-term commitment to Gulf security. The US has refused to sell its top-of-the-line F-35 fighter to Saudi Arabia, given Washington's legal obligation to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge (QME) in the region. Guy McCardle reports in a December 2024 SOFREP article that the US refuses to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia due to deep concerns over technology security and geopolitical alignment. At stake, he writes, is the F-35's proprietary software, which includes the source code that remains US-controlled, leaving Saudi Arabia dependent on the US for upgrades and operational sovereignty. He also warns that integrating the F-35 with Chinese-made Saudi air defenses could compromise the jet's stealth and intelligence-sharing capabilities. While Saudi Arabia has sought participation in the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), slated to enter service in 2035, development delays in the program could raise questions of why Saudi Arabia should wait that long when the J-35 already exists. Saudi Arabia may thus consider the J-35 as part of a broader hedge between the US and China. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Saudi Arabia was the largest buyer of US weapons, accounting for 12% of US arms sales in 2024. Ghulam Ali, writing in China-US Focus, observes that 70–80% of Saudi Arabia's arms come from the US, a dependency that aligns with both countries' interests, albeit at a cost. He explains that US weapons are expensive, technology-sharing is limited and terms are subject to political shifts every four years. Crucially, he notes that these arms often come with political strings attached, which restrict their use in certain theaters. Elizabeth Dent and Grant Rumley, writing in a September 2024 article for Defense One, recount how the US suspended offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021 with the condition that their resumption would be contingent upon the latter's compliance with international humanitarian norms and progress in ending the war in Yemen. They note that Saudi Arabia responded by halting its air campaign, participating in UN-led peace negotiations and committing to training aimed at reducing civilian harm. Dent and Rumley argue that the US leveraged Saudi Arabia's dependence on F-15s and Patriot missile systems to exert political pressure, demonstrating that US arms sales are not unconditional but tools of policy influence. That US move may have impressed upon Saudi military planners the need for alternative suppliers whose arms come without political conditions. Fuad Shahbazov writes in the Gulf International Forum that China quickly moved to capitalize on Saudi Arabia's dissatisfaction with the US, offering advanced drones and ballistic missile systems — weapons that the US is either unable or unwilling to provide, while also partnering with Saudi Arabia's emerging arms industry. Still, he cautions, China cannot replace the US as Saudi Arabia's primary security guarantor. He notes that although Saudi Arabia has looked to China to influence Iran to stop Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, China is reluctant to get entangled in a larger Middle East conflict and is careful not to damage its close relations with Iran. However, US arms exports to Saudi Arabia may not assuage Riyadh's fear of abandonment when faced with internal unrest or an Iran determined to retaliate with proxies, drones, missiles or even potential nuclear weapons, should its regime survive the ongoing conflict with Israel. Oliver John, writing in a June 2025 report for the Gulf International Forum, argues that the memory of the US abandoning Egypt's Hosni Mubarak during the 2011 Arab Spring protests gives a sense of insecurity to the Saudi regime. He observes that Gulf leaders increasingly interpret the US 'Pivot to Asia' as a strategic retreat from the Middle East, a view reinforced by the US drive for energy independence. John adds that although the Trump administration courted Saudi Arabia in 2019, its failure to respond to Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure that same year deepened doubts across the Gulf about the credibility of US security guarantees. Ultimately, the importance of Saudi Arabia's defense choices lies not in whether it purchases from the US or China but in how it utilizes those tools to influence its regional diplomacy with Iran, Israel and other regional players.
South China Morning Post
17-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Paris Air Show: China gives glimpse of 5th-gen J-35A fighter model in bid for foreign sales
China has displayed a scale model of its latest fifth-generation fighter jet overseas for the first time as part of its advanced military aircraft line-up at a major air show in Europe this week. Advertisement China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) displayed a miniature version of the J-35A – the land-based variant of China's latest fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35 – at the 55th Paris Air Show, the largest and one of the oldest events of its kind in the world. After more than a decade of development by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), China unveiled the J-35A at the Zhuhai air show in November as China's second fifth-generation fighter jet after the J-20 02:26 China's biggest air show in Zhuhai features new fighter jets and helicopters China's biggest air show in Zhuhai features new fighter jets and helicopters The J-20 is prohibited from overseas export but was also on display at CATIC's booth in the Paris Air Show, which is taking place until Sunday. While its original version is expected to be used as a carrier-based fighter for Chinese aircraft carriers, its land-based variant has been developed for the People's Liberation Army Air Force and was reportedly first flown in September 2023. The J-35 debuted at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, in February, but this is the first time the J-35A has been showcased outside China. Advertisement China has been trying to boost export sales of its fighter aircraft. Wary of offending the US, Europe has ruled out buying Chinese military planes, but sales have risen in developing countries, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia.
South China Morning Post
17-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China displays fifth-gen J-35A fighter model at Paris Air Show in bid for foreign sales
China has displayed a scale model of its latest fifth-generation fighter jet overseas for the first time as part of its advanced military aircraft line-up at a major air show in Europe this week. China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) displayed a miniature version of the J-35A – the land-based variant of China's latest fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35 – at the 55th Paris Air Show, the largest and one of the oldest air shows in the world. China unveiled the J-35A at the Zhuhai air show in November after more than a decade of development by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) as China's second fifth-generation fighter jet after the J-20 02:26 China's biggest air show in Zhuhai features new fighter jets and helicopters China's biggest air show in Zhuhai features new fighter jets and helicopters The J-20 is prohibited from overseas export but was also on display at CATIC's booth in the Paris Air Show, which is taking place until Sunday. While its original version is expected to be used as a carrier-based fighter for Chinese aircraft carriers, its land-based variant has been developed for the People's Liberation Army Air Force and was reportedly first flown in September 2023. The Paris Air Show marks the first showcase of the J-35A outside China, following the overseas debut of the carrier-based variant at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, in February. China has recently been seeking to boost export sales of its fighter aircraft. Although China does not have a record of fighter aircraft sales in the European market – which has ruled out buying Chinese military aircraft because of Beijing's political and military relations with the US – it has recently seen a rise in sales in developing countries, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia.
Business Insider
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Chinese state-owned defense company explores naval cooperation with Ghana
Executives from the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), a major Chinese state-owned defense company, have signaled a growing interest in strengthening military cooperation with Ghana. Executives of China's CATIC visited Ghana Navy to discuss military collaborations. CATIC specializes in defense exports including aircraft, naval vessels, and technology. Ghana prioritizes strengthening naval readiness through partnerships and modernization efforts. During a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Ghana Navy, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, on June 2, 2025, at the Naval Headquarters in Accra, a delegation from China, led by CATIC executives, held discussions centered on potential areas of collaboration to enhance the operational capacity of the Ghanaian naval force. According to Military Africa, the CATIC delegation was led by Mr. Fang Xu, the Director for the Africa Department, and included other key representatives from the corporation. The primary purpose of their visit was to introduce CATIC to the leadership of the Ghana Navy formally and to initiate discussions on potential partnerships and cooperative ventures. CATIC, known globally for exporting Chinese-made military aircraft, naval vessels, and other defense technology, often engages with foreign partners to promote strategic defense partnerships and offer tailored solutions to meet local security needs. The visit to Ghana marks a potential step toward deepening Sino-Ghanaian military relations, particularly in maritime security and naval modernization. Ghana's increasing security challenges West Africa is facing a surge in security threats, including terrorist insurgencies, military coups, inter-communal violence, and organized crime. Ghana, a coastal West African nation, is particularly vulnerable to maritime security threats like piracy, illegal fishing, and trafficking. Additionally, security analysts warn that Ghanaians, especially unemployed youth, are at risk of recruitment by jihadi groups operating in neighboring Burkina Faso, such as Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province (ISGS). These groups are expanding their territory and influence, threatening coastal states like Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Côte d'Ivoire. To address these challenges, Ghana is prioritizing enhancing naval readiness and access to modern maritime platforms and training. International partnerships are crucial in strengthening Ghana's naval operations, as evident from the recent meeting between Ghana and the Chinese delegation, where both parties expressed optimism about potential future collaboration. Ghana's Rear Admiral Bessing welcomed the delegation and emphasized the importance of international partnerships in strengthening Ghana's naval operations. 'Partnering with experienced international corporations like CATIC to bring in advanced technology and expertise is crucial for us to effectively tackle contemporary maritime security challenges, including piracy, illegal fishing, and other transnational crimes. ' R/Adm Bessing stated.
Egypt Independent
11-05-2025
- Egypt Independent
Egypt, China celebrate 45 years of military aviation partnership
The Egyptian Air Force and China's National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) company held a ceremony at the Citadel of Salah al-Din. The event commemorated the arrival of the first fighter jets produced by CATIC into the Egyptian Air Force fleet. The ceremony included a guided tour of the military museum at the Citadel, highlighting Egypt's military history. Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Fouad Abdel-Gawad conveyed a message from Egypt's top military leadership. He also expressed optimism for expanding future collaboration to enhance combat readiness and keep pace with technological advancements in aviation. For his part, CATIC's CEO and the Chinese ambassador to Egypt both attended, reiterating the importance of military cooperation and shared goals in developing advanced capabilities.
