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Chinese fighter jets have carried out joint combat training with Egyptian counterparts, following a major deployment to the Middle East.
The drill began on August 23 and is expected to run into early next month. It is the second round of the “Eagles of Civilization” joint air force training exercises between China and Egypt.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force deployed J-16 fighter jets, YU-20 aerial refueling tankers, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, and Z-20 helicopters for the exercise.
The aircraft flew more than 6,000 kilometers over nine hours to reach Egypt, crossing four countries, according to CCTV. The Chinese state broadcaster did not specify which countries the aircraft flew over or whether the route passed near Iran or Persian Gulf nations.
“Through cross-border deployment and rapid loading and unloading operations, the exercise tested the air force’s capabilities in long-range force projection, rapid deployment and integrated operations,” CCTV reported.
During the flight, the J-16s refueled midair from YU-20 tankers before landing at an air base in Egypt on August 21, CCTV said. The Chinese air force then unloaded supplies, sorted equipment and coordinated briefings in preparation for training missions, all within a single day, according to the report.
“The joint exercises have provided a valuable platform for us pilots to improve our combat capabilities,” said Ning Yiming, a pilot taking part in the drill.
On the first day of training, the Chinese J-16 fighters flew one-on-one and two-on-two close- and medium-range air combat drills against French-made Rafale fighters operated by the Egyptian air force, CCTV reported. This marked the J-16’s first deployment outside Asia and its first reported engagement against a mainstream Western-made fighter such as the Rafale.
The J-16 is China’s top-tier heavyweight, twin-engine fighter, domestically developed and based on the Russian Su-27 jet. Although it lacks stealth features, defense experts regard it as one of the most capable fourth-generation fighters in the world.
Both countries have upgraded their participating aircraft since the first exercise last year, when the fighter component consisted of Chinese J-10Cs and Egyptian MiG-29s.
China has expanded military ties with Egypt over the past two years through growing defense engagement and arms sales.
The inaugural Eagles of Civilisation exercise in 2025 marked the Chinese air force first deployment to Africa with a full combat and support package. The Chinese contingent then included J-10C fighter jets, Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, KJ-500s and YU-20s. After completing 18 training sessions with their Egyptian hosts, the air force conducted a ceremonial flyover of the pyramids in a formation of J-10s and a Y-20.
Also in 2025, reports indicated Egypt had acquired and deployed Chinese-made HQ-9BE air-defense systems and ordered 10 WJ-700 drones. Speculation about Egyptian interest in the J-10CE fighter has surfaced repeatedly, though Beijing has previously dismissed rumors of a completed deal.
The expanding scope of the military drills and deeper defense engagement have increasingly drawn the attention of both the United States and Israel.
For decades, Washington has served as Egypt’s primary security benefactor, supplying billions of dollars in military aid and high-end hardware. However, Cairo has progressively diversified its defense procurement, acquiring assets from France and Russia while building an increasingly robust relationship with Beijing.
Access to Chinese weaponry could lessen Cairo’s reliance on American defense support while granting Beijing a larger long-term security presence in North Africa.
In Israel, the concern centers less on the immediate maneuvers and more on what long-term Egyptian-Chinese defense ties could mean for Egypt’s future military posture.
The potential sale of Chinese fighter jets like the J-10CE to Egypt is one point that worries Israel. Chinese systems are sold without the stringent operational end-use restrictions often tied to Western military transfers, potentially giving Cairo access to capabilities beyond the reach of Western oversight and complicating Israeli defense calculations over its long-held qualitative military edge in the region.
Despite the growing visibility of the joint exercises, Egypt is not yet abandoning its alliance with the U.S or forming a binding military pact with China.
Cairo continues to maintain extensive security ties with Washington and European partners while operating a complex, multi-origin fleet of American, French, and Russian aircraft.
Rather than a total pivot, the extensive drills with China reflect Egypt’s broader push for geopolitical flexibility—securing additional defense options, while offering Beijing greater access to one of the most significant armed forces in the Arab world.
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