Egypt Signs $400M Contract for WJ-700 Al-Saqr Drone Development
Egypt has signed a $400 million contract for the development of the WJ-700 drone, locally named 'Al-Saqr', as part of a strategic shift towards a drone-based military force. This move involves abandoning plans for large manned fighter jet purchases, focusing instead on Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (Ucav) and enhancing local production capabilities through technology transfer initiatives. The country aims to significantly bolster its UAV arsenal, exceeding 480 units, to ensure effective deterrence and operational sustainability.
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Egypt is shifting its aerial doctrine towards the development of a drone-based force, moving away from large purchases of manned fighter jets. Plans to acquire Chengdu J-10C and Sukhoi Su-35 have been abandoned or revised, focusing instead on jet-powered Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (Ucav).
Central to this strategy is the WJ-700 drone from Chinese manufacturer Casic, locally named 'Al-Saqr', with a contract signed in June 2025 worth approximately $400 million for a significant number of units. Additionally, during the Egypt Defence Expo (Edex 2025) held from December 1-4, local industrialization programs were launched to transfer technology and production capabilities to Egypt. This approach aims to position Egypt prominently in the unmanned aerial systems sector, with an estimated UAV arsenal exceeding 480 units, providing effective conventional deterrence and sustainable operational costs.
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