China's investment in African mining has fueled its growing demand for these resources, especially for electric vehicles and other technologies.

Developing its Silk Road initiative sea ports to control strategic trade routes has also been at play in Tanzania (Port Bagamayo) and Djibouti (Port Doraleh).

The Tanzania Air Force has operated a large number of Chinese aircraft for a while including the very capable Chengdu J-7G acquired in 2013. While Djibouti now serves Chinese military interests with its close proximity to the Gulf of Aden. Since the port project was founded in 2013, the Djibouti air force has taken on two Harbin Y-12E Turbo Pandas, one Harbin Z-9WE helicopter and a Xian MA60 transport aircraft.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) at least 21 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa received large consignments of Chinese arms between 2019 and 2023.

Clearly it’s a revenue-driver and Chinese dealers hawk arms to African nations by offering cut-rate prices, and as one bewildered European sales person told the author “They carry wads of dollar notes in their briefcases to curry favour with the would-be customer. Its very frustrating.”

The Pakistan Air Force pulled off a huge marketing stunt for the Chinese during its recent spat with the Indian Air Force in early May. When the PAF’s very capable Chengdu J-10CE and Chengdu JF-17Cs, shot down five enemy aircraft, three of them being the highly-capable fourth-generation Dassault Rafale, with the very long range Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missiles, African air force chiefs must have taken notice.

The Nigerian Air Force operates both the Chengdu F-7 and JF-17, and could now look at the J-10CE as an option.

There is also continous speculation that Egypt has bought the J-10CE, and hosting the recent ‘Eagles of Civilisation 2025’ exercise when J-10Cs flew alongside Egyptian AF MiG-29M2s between April 19 to May 4. did nothing to dim that speculation.

There is no way the Egyptians can afford them, but President SiSi’s government could come to some barter agreement with its mineral resources, including copper, gold, silver, zinc, platinum, phosphate, iron ore and coal.

What the US would say is another matter, given it has ploughed billions of dollars of military aid into Egypt since the 1975 Camp David Accord. Using the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) initiative would curtail future US military aid to Egypt, which led to Cairo abandoning attempts to buy 24 Russian Su-35 Flanker-Es in 2019, even though the first batch were ready for delivery. These are now being delivered to Iran and Algeria.

The Egyptians are no strangers to Chinese fighters having operated a large number of Chengdu J-7s in the past, as have Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

The Hongdu K-8 Karakoram light attack/jet trainer has also been a very popular purchase by African air forces – Egypt, Ghana, Namibia, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have all operated the type although the Ghana Air Force examples were grounded within a year or so because of a lack of support - a regular criticism of buying Chinese.

Africa has been a destination for some other more obscure light attack/jet trainers. Sudan bought six Guizhou FTC-2000Gs known as the JL-9, to replace its A-5 Fantans during 2016, deliveries were completed by 2018. Zambia in 2016 became the first and only export customers of the Hongdu L-15 attack/fighter trainer variant known as the JL-10 Falcon.

Like so many countries in Africa, Sudan and Zambia enjoy close relationships as major trading partners with China, and as Europe abandons much of Africa because of conflict, particularly in the Sahal region, there will undoubtedly be more business for China.

The first deliveries to the UAE Air Force and Air Defence are scheduled for end of 2026.

In the midst of geopolitical uncertainties and warfares, group CEO, Eric Trappier told Arabian Aerospace that Dassault Aviation is ready to support defence capabilities of France, Europe and other countries.

Despite supply chain challenges, which will persist for some time, Dassault could supply 30 more Rafale jets if needed. “We have a rich legacy, proven industrial expertise and a highly-skilled labour force, which gives us a good manoeuvring margin to increase the production rate of the Rafale,” he said.

"We plan to deliver three Rafales per month next year, and four as from 2028-29", announced the group's CEO. He added that he has "heard the call" of president Emmanuel Macron who has shown his willingness to "increase and accelerate Rafale orders" in view of the geopolitical context.

Dassault Aviation plans to ramp up production rapidly and is "studying the possibility" of delivering up to five Rafales per month as requested by the French president.     

He also told Arabian Aerospace that the MENA region represents "an important market with interesting opportunities", including Saudi Arabia, a much-coveted kingdom with an ambitious development and investment plan.

“We are open to discussions. There are interesting prospects in the Middle East. We have established good commercial links with non-aligned countries like Egypt, our first Rafale export. Several commercial processes are currently under way, like with India for the supply of 26 Rafale Marine”, added Trappier.

The UAE has ordered 80 Rafale jets in the largest-ever export contract for the French combat aircraft in 2021. They will be delivered in the F4 configuration, with additional weapon integrations, new modes for the aircraft’s RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the Spectra electronic warfare system. Once in service, the Rafale will replace the UAE Air Force’s Mirage 2000-9 fleet.

Dassault's Rafale is powered by two M88 engines designed, developed and produced by Safran Aircraft Engines. The combat fighter has also enhanced its offensive capabilities with the integration of the 1,000 kg AASM, developed by Safran Electronics and Defence under the name Hammer.

According to the French Group, the Rafale will “enhance its [the UAE’s] influence as a major international power.” Deliveries will run through to 2031.

The Rafale has made an interesting breakthrough a decade ago in other MENA countries with orders from Egypt (24 in 2015 and 31 in 2021) and Qatar (24 in 2015 and 12 in 2017).

There are still 220 Rafale jets to be delivered under the France and export orders (as of 31/12/2024). This production load gives Dassault about 10 years visibility.

The Rafale will no doubt touch new skies during Dubai Airshow 2025 set to redefine the boundaries of aviation and defence.

The EOTS uses infrared imaging to detect and track targets, as well as laser designation for guiding precision munitions, without adding external targeting pods that would make it less stealthy.

Elsewhere, the undercarriage doors are now jagged and while no powerplant has been selected, there are aspirations to acquire a turbofan engine, with Edge having been in discussions with engine manufacturers to meet this requirement.

Positioned next to the Jeniah is a Halcon P32 Thunder precision-guided munition, of which two could be housed in the weapons bay.

The low-observable high-speed UCAV, which will be used for manned-unmanned teaming operations is not expected to fly for three-four years, so obviously by 2030, when the Rafale F5 is expected to be launched with the Dassault Neuron UCAV for manned-unmanned teaming the Jeniah could be ready.

They are representative of the 12 aircraft on order (and 12 on option) by the UAEAF&AD known as ‘P12’. The first (001) is, according to one source, expected to fly soon and will feature both ground attack and advanced mission trainer configurations.

The B-250 is being designed for missions such as close air support, intelligent surveillance and reconnaissance, persistent air support, counterinsurgency as well as training.

All three new prototypes will be involved in several flight test campaigns to speed up the certification of the mission systems – such as electronic warfare, stores management system and weapons integration. 

The example found at the Calidus stand in the outside area, B250T 981 wearing an orange colour scheme, while the second prototype, B250 982 is in a grey scheme. 

The Desert Sting 16 and Desert Sting 25, as well as the Halcon P32 Thunder precision-guided munition, are all being integrated for the ground-attack role.

One surprise addition to the aircraft’s armoury was Calidus’s own Alheda (name for a Falcon who flies from fire to fire) air-to-ground weapon.

Initially a ground-to-ground weapon, housing high-explosive fragmentation and high-explosive anti-tank warheads, integration of the air-launched weapon is currently on going. 

Progress with the B250T trainer version, like 981 at the stand, is not as rapid as the B250 version, as the UAEAF&AD is still considering all its basic trainer options.

In addition to the 12 on order with 12 options for the local customer, announced in a $620 million deal at Dubai Airshow 2019, another eight are also being built in the WX-80 configuration specifically for the cloud-seeding or rain-maker role. 

According to a source, Calidus is expecting a substantial order for the B250 from its first export customer by the end of the year. 

In addition to its anti-surface warfare role, which sees it armed with the short-range MBDA Martel to engage low-flying ground threats and the MBDA Sea Venom anti-ship missile, the Wildcat is used for force protection and counter-piracy ops. The HMS Lancaster Type 23 frigate is currently in the Middle East as part of Operation Kipion.   

In mid-March, the HMS Lancaster struck drug traffickers in the region when it seized a haul with a market value of £5.4 million in the northern Arabian Sea.

In the Navy’s first bust of 2025, sailors and Royal Marines from the Portsmouth-based warship subsequently destroyed 340kgs of heroin and 83kgs of methamphetamine, following a concerted effort that saw drones play a key role for the first time.

It was thanks to the sharp eyes of operators on one of the new Peregrine remote-controlled mini-helicopters that suspicious activity was spotted on boats side-by-side in the dead of night.

That prompted the frigate to launch a Wildcat helicopter for closer inspection. When its crew arrived on the scene they could clearly see packages being transferred from a small fast boat on to a dhow, the traditional fishing/cargo vessels commonplace in the region. The actions were the clear sign of a drug smuggling operation.

Under Operation Kipion the UK has maintained a permanent maritime presence in the Persian Gulf since 1980.

Initially known as the Armilla Patrol, in June 2011 the deployment evolved into Operation Kipion which represents the Royal Navy’s current maritime security presence in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

Operation Kipion is a combination of Royal Navy operations in the Middle East patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, and Suez Canal and conducting counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean.