China to help Egypt build new drone fleet: Report

• Egypt is working with China to locally produce armed drones, according to the National Interest.
• The move reflects shifting regional alliances amid concerns over ‘Israel’ and reduced US backing.

Egypt has turned to China to help develop a new and advanced fleet of military drones, a step aimed at upgrading its defense capabilities and responding to what it views as escalating regional threats, according to an article published by the US magazine National Interest.

The article said Cairo is seeking a qualitative transformation in its military equipment by expanding domestic production of unmanned aerial vehicles with Chinese support.

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It noted that Egyptian leaders believe the actions of the ‘Israeli’ government have “gone too far”, citing the war on Gaza, attempts to displace the population of the Gaza Strip, and the widening scope of regional confrontation.

Joint production with China

Egypt is cooperating with the Chinese state-owned arms company Norinco to establish joint production facilities inside the country. These facilities are expected to manufacture Chinese ASN-209 armed drones under the local designation “Hamza-2”, according to the article.

The report added that around 85% of the drones are expected to be produced domestically through the Arab Organization for Industrialization, allowing Egypt to manage production locally while relying on Chinese components.

The “Hamza-2”, according to the analysis, is designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and attack missions. It is powered by a simple piston engine, has an operational range of about 1500 kilometers, high endurance, and a top speed estimated at around 200 kilometers per hour.

Shifting regional dynamics

The article framed the move as part of a broader geopolitical shift, arguing that the Middle East has increasingly moved away from US influence. It added that Arab states are pursuing new security arrangements in response to ‘Israeli’ aggression and what they see as a lack of sustained strategic support from Washington.

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The report warned US and ‘Israeli’ leaders that regional powers are actively seeking new strategic partners to reshape the security landscape in line with their own interests, having concluded that the United States is unlikely to fully back their strategic positions in the future.