China’s J-16s face off against Egypt’s Rafales in combat drills as Iran war rumbles on

Chinese J-16 fighter jets recently engaged in combat training alongside Egyptian Rafale fighters during a joint military exercise held in Egypt. This second "Eagles of Civilisation" drill took place between August 19-27 and involved a total of 20 aircraft, crossing four countries to reach Egypt. The PLA Air Force deployed J-16s, YU-20 aerial tankers, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, and Z-20 helicopters.

The mission aimed to test the air force's capabilities in long-range force projection, rapid deployment, and integrated operations.

During the exercise, the J-16s conducted aerial refueling from YU-20 tankers before landing at an Egyptian airbase on August 21. They then unloaded supplies, sorted equipment, and coordinated briefings within a single day. Pilot Ning Yiming stated that the joint exercises provided a valuable platform to improve their combat capabilities.

The J-16's deployment marked the first time the heavyweight twin-engine fighter, based on the Russian Su-27, ventured outside Asia and engaged a mainstream Western-made fighter, the Rafale, operated by the Egyptian Air Force.