Xi Jinping tells Egypt's Sisi 'external interference' in Middle East should be opposed

During Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Egypt, a detailed display of Chinese military hardware was presented at Egyptian airbases. This joint military exercise, known as Eagles of Civilisation 2026, is the second of its kind between the two nations' air forces. The Chinese contingent, comprising a larger and more diverse array of aircraft than in 2025, is essentially a tour of Beijing's offerings for Egypt and other Middle Eastern buyers.

Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow for air power at the Royal United Services Institute in London, highlighted the Chinese government's efforts to replace Russia as Egypt's preferred non-Western air power supplier. This push is fueled by dissatisfaction with Russia's Su-35S fighters, following comparative trials against France's Dassault Rafales and the United States' F-16s.

The Chinese aircraft on display include the J-16, J-10C, J-35, YU-20, KJ-500, and HQ-9B. The J-16, a 4.5-generation twin-engined strike fighter, will not likely be exported due to its central role in China's combat capabilities. The J-10C, a medium-weight fighter, is openly promoted by Chinese state media for Egypt. The J-35, a stealth fighter with resemblance to the American F-35, is a potential candidate for sale.

The YU-20, a versatile aerial-refuelling variant of the Xian Y-20 strategic airlifter, demonstrated cross-fleet compatibility by refuelling an Egyptian Rafale. The KJ-500, a large airborne surveillance platform, and the Y-9LG, an airborne stand-off jammer, showcased China's growing willingness to expose sensitive platforms to allied training environments.

The HQ-9B, a long-range surface-to-air missile system, is the only piece of Chinese hardware Egypt has actually purchased and deployed.