Egypt reportedly signs deal for Chinese WJ-700 drones
Egypt has reportedly signed a contract worth about $400 million to acquire 10 Chinese-made WJ-700 unmanned combat aerial vehicles.
According to information circulating in Chinese and Arabic defense reporting, the agreement was signed in June 2025. If the deal is fully implemented, Egypt would become the second operator of the WJ-700 following Algeria, marking another step in the expansion of Chinese combat drone exports in the Middle East and North Africa.
The WJ-700, also referred to in Arabic-language sources as “Al-Saqr,” is described as a departure from earlier generations of Chinese Wing Loong unmanned aircraft. The platform is positioned as a higher-end system with greater speed, altitude, and strike options compared to previous designs.
The WJ-700 uses jet propulsion, powered by a turbojet engine that allows it to reach attack speeds of up to 700 kilometers per hour. This places it well above the cruise speed of most medium-altitude, long-endurance drones currently in service worldwide.
The drone is also designed to operate at high altitude, with a reported service ceiling of up to 15,000 meters, or roughly 50,000 feet. Operating at this altitude would place the aircraft outside the engagement envelope of many short- and medium-range air defense systems, a factor often cited as important for survivability in contested airspace.
Endurance and payload capacity are central to the WJ-700’s design. According to the information released, the drone can remain airborne for up to 20 hours while carrying a weapons load of up to 800 kilograms. This combination is intended to allow for long-range strike missions as well as extended patrol or loitering operations.
The reported weapons options include CM-102 missiles designed for suppression of enemy air defenses and C-705KD anti-ship missiles. These munitions suggest a mission set that goes beyond reconnaissance, enabling the drone to conduct strikes against both land-based air defense assets and maritime targets.
The reported WJ-700 deal would add a jet-powered, higher-altitude platform to its inventory, potentially complementing existing medium-altitude drones already in service.
