Archive · 24 Aug 2026
China’s J-16 Fighters Join Rafales in Egypt Exercise
China and Egypt are holding an air-training exercise called Eagles of Civilization 2026.
Chinese J-16 fighter jets are training alongside French Rafale jets in Egypt.
The exercise began on August 22, 2026, and will last several days.
It is the first time J-16 jets have taken part in a China-Egypt exercise.
The planes flew about 6,000 kilometers to Egypt and used another aircraft to refuel in the air.
The J-16 is a large fighter with two engines and two seats.
China sent smaller J-10C fighters to the exercise in 2025.
The new exercise gives observers a chance to compare a Chinese fighter with a Western aircraft.
Claims about Chinese J-10C jets defeating Indian aircraft in 2025 remain disputed by India and analysts.
China’s J-16 fighters and French Rafales are participating in the Eagles of Civilization 2026 exercise in Egypt.
Egypt and China launched the second edition of the drills on Saturday, August 22, 2026, with activities planned over several days.
The J-16 is a larger, heavier, twin-engine, two-seat fighter designed for longer-range missions and built by AVIC Shenyang.
The Chinese aircraft reportedly traveled about 6,000 kilometers to Egypt in nine hours, using mid-air refueling from a YY-20A aircraft.
The exercise follows disputed claims about Chinese J-10C fighters’ performance against Indian aircraft, including Rafales, during the May 2025 India-Pakistan clash.
- Who
- China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force, Egypt’s armed forces, and French Rafale operators.
- What
- The Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint air exercise involving Chinese J-16 fighters and French Rafales.
- When
- The exercise began Saturday, August 22, 2026, and is scheduled to last several days; the referenced India-Pakistan clash occurred in May 2025.
- Where
- Several Egyptian air bases in Egypt.
- Why
- The exercise is intended to strengthen military cooperation between Egypt and China and provide training alongside a Western fighter platform.
Pakistan and Chinese Fighter Claims
Indian and Skeptical Assessments
J-10C performance in 2025
Pakistan and Chinese Fighter Claims
Pakistan credited Chinese J-10C fighters with downing multiple Indian aircraft, including French-made Rafales, during the May 2025 clash.
Indian and Skeptical Assessments
India disputes Pakistan’s account and said it destroyed about a dozen Pakistani aircraft, including at least five advanced fighters.
Extent of combat losses
Pakistan and Chinese Fighter Claims
Pakistan’s account emphasized the success of its Chinese-made J-10C fighters against Indian aircraft.
Indian and Skeptical Assessments
The exact number and identities of aircraft destroyed remain disputed, and analysts have questioned military-success claims made by both sides.
- Exercise
- Eagles of Civilization 2026
- Participants
- Chinese J-16 fighters, French Rafales, and Egyptian military forces
- Start date
- Saturday, August 22, 2026
- J-16 design
- A larger and heavier twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter designed for longer-range missions
- Deployment distance
- Approximately 6,000 kilometers, or 3,700 miles
- Flight support
- The J-16s reportedly used a YY-20A aerial refueling aircraft en route to Egypt
- Previous Chinese participation
- China deployed J-10C fighters to the exercise in 2025
