The PLAAF deployed a full-spectrum, integrated air package: heavy fighters, tankers, AEW&C, EW aircraft, transports, and helicopters — a major upgrade from the 2025 drill, which only featured J‑10C fighters and support aircraft.
J-16 fighters debut in China-Egypt joint drills in Africa, showcasing strong overseas deployment capability: expert
By Li Yu Published: Aug 21, 2026 09:37 PM
(link)
Multiple types of aircraft and personnel from the Chinese People’s
Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force participating in the China-Egypt Eagles
of Civilization 2026 joint training arrived at an air base in Egypt
early Friday morning after an intercontinental deployment, according to
an official release from the PLA Air Force.
Notably, the
exercise marks the first time China’s J-16 heavy fighter jets have
traveled to Africa for the China-Egypt joint training.
The joint
training marks the second such exercise between the two air forces. The
PLA Air Force has deployed multiple types of aircraft in an integrated
and systematic formation, including fighter jets, aerial refueling
aircraft, special-mission aircraft and helicopters, according to the PLA
Air Force.
A video attached to the PLA Air Force release, filmed
through the window of a YY-20A aerial refueling aircraft, showed a
Chinese J-16 fighter jet being refueled in mid-air. Another scene showed
that the YY-20A hosted in-flight refueling for two J-16s at the same
time. According to the release, the aerial refueling took place en route
to Egypt.
The growing types of more capable aircraft deployed in
the China-Egypt joint training highlighted the PLA Air Force’s
capabilities to carry out rapid intercontinental strategic deployments
of tactical aircraft, also demonstrating its strong overseas strategic
deployment capabilities, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs
expert, told the Global Times on Friday.
Song said that the J-16
heavy fighter jets’ first participation in the China-Egypt joint air
force training marks an upgrade from last year’s deployment of
medium-sized J-10Cs in the drill, reflecting broader and more advanced
overseas training by the Chinese Air Force.
As a mainstay heavy
fighter, the J-16 also gains valuable experience operating in unfamiliar
environments, while also reflecting efforts to expose more frontline
aircraft to different geographical, climatic and operational conditions
through overseas joint training, the expert noted.
Unlike the
J-10C, which focuses more on air superiority, the J-16 is more capable
in terms of striking ground and maritime targets and carrying a heavier
weapons load. Its participation could therefore expand the training to
more complex multirole combat scenarios, Song said.
The PLA Air
Force formation traveled more than 6,000 kilometers across two
continents and four countries during a nearly nine-hour flight to Egypt.
Upon arrival, personnel quickly unloaded supplies, organized equipment
and carried out coordination work to prepare for training flights,
according to the PLA Air Force.
The cross-border integrated
deployment and rapid loading and unloading operations tested the PLA Air
Force’s long-range projection, agile deployment and system-of-systems
operational capabilities, the release said.
A member of the PLA
Air Force said that during the deployment, the aerial refueling aircraft
not only carried out mid-air refueling missions but also served as an
airborne command node.
The Chinese Air Force’s participation in
joint training in Egypt for two consecutive years with a system of
forces showed that long-range overseas training is moving from
capability validation toward greater maturity and normalization, Song
said.
This also reflects China’s progress in building a
strategic air force and extending its ability to safeguard its overseas
interests, while showcasing the military confidence of China as a
responsible major country, Song noted.
The Chinese and Egyptian
air forces will hold Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint training in Egypt
from mid-August to early September. The training will focus on subjects
including air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat
search and rescue, and will include force employment drills, the Chinese
defense ministry said.
Recently, the PLA Air Force has
participated in a series of joint exercises and training activities. In
August, the Air Force has announced joint training with four countries –
Belarus, Thailand, Egypt and the UAE.
Following the completion
of China-Thailand Falcon Strike 2026 joint air force training on
Thursday, the PLA Air Force is set to kick off the “Falcon Shield 2026”
joint training with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Hotan, Northwest
China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to the Chinese
defense ministry.
Meanwhile, the PLA Air Force announced on
Thursday that the China-Belarus Swift Eagle 2026 airborne joint
training, which opened at a PLA Air Force training center on August 12,
entered its comprehensive exercise phase on Wednesday.
Communist Propaganda Of The Day: Egyptian pyramids fly over version 2
China-Egypt
Eagles of Civilization 2025 joint air force training deepens
cooperation between two militaries: Defense Spokesperson
Source
China Military Online
Editor
Lin Congyi
Time
2025-04-24 17:38:38
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16382658.html
BEIJING,
April 24 — “This will help enhance technical and tactical capabilities
of the two air forces and deepen substantive cooperation between the
Chinese and Egyptian militaries,” said Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang,
spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a regular
press conference on Thursday.
The spokesperson made the above
remarks when being asked to introduce the tactical and strategic
outcomes of the on-going China-Egypt Eagles of Civilization 2025 joint
air force training.
The spokesperson said that Eagles of
Civilization 2025 joint air force training is the first joint training
between the Chinese and Egyptian armed forces. The two sides deployed
fighter jets, AEW&Cs, tankers and helicopters to the event. Drills
on air combat and air refueling began on April 19, and subjects of air
support and battlefield search and rescue will also be covered.
“The
joint training will run until early May. The Chinese PLAAF aircraft
will train in collaboration with assets of the Egyptian Air Force. This
will help enhance technical and tactical capabilities of the two air
forces and deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and
Egyptian militaries,” added the spokesperson.
Communist Propaganda Of The Day: J-10 and Y-20 flying over the Egyptian pyramids for the first time
Note to the Chinese government: while we appreciate below is a PR
release, but calling the J-10 a “stealth fighter” is still a bit
excessive.
https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202408/29/content_WS66cfd64fc6d0868f4e8ea50c.html
J-10
stealth fighter jets from the Bayi Aerobatic Team fly over the Giza
Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, Aug. 28, 2024. The flight formation
is in Egypt for an air show, scheduled from Sept. 3 to 5.
[Photo/Xinhua]
Also 46th Chinese naval escort taskforce visits Egypt
CAIRO,
Aug. 19 — The guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo (Hull 163) and the
comprehensive supply ship Honghu (Hull 906) attached to the 46th Chinese
naval escort taskforce arrived at the Port of Alexandria, Egypt on
August 15 for a five-day goodwill visit.
During
the visit, the taskforce will hold a desk reception, and members of the
two navies will carry out cross-deck visits, professional exchanges,
friendly football matches and other activities.
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