Chinese J-16 fighters arrive in Egypt ahead of Eagles of Civilisation 2026 joint drill
A fleet of Chinese J-16 fighters has arrived in Egypt ahead of a joint exercise that will be the aircraft’s first-ever deployment to Africa. The planes and aviators taking part in the Eagles of Civilisation 2026 exercise arrived at an Egyptian airbase on Friday morning after a 6,000km (3,700-mile) journey that took nine hours and required the planes to refuel in mid-air, according to the People’s…
Chinese J-16 fighters have arrived in Egypt for the Eagles of Civilisation 2026 joint drill, marking the aircraft's first deployment to Africa. The planes and personnel embarked on a 6,000km journey that took nine hours, requiring mid-air refueling, according to the People's Liberation Army. The exercises, expected to conclude early next month, aim to enhance air combat tactics and air superiority operations.
This year's drill will focus on these aspects, as well as fostering trust and cooperation between the Egyptian and Chinese militaries, contributing to regional peace and stability. Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former PLA instructor, emphasized the significance of these deployments in enhancing combat readiness and operating in unfamiliar environments.
He stated that such exercises are crucial as China strives to bolster its global power projection capabilities, recognizing the importance of military capability alongside diplomatic efforts to safeguard its overseas interests.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
