China's J-16 Faces Off with Rafale in Egypt Drills
Chinese and Egyptian pilots are holding the first J-16 versus Rafale drills, with the PLA Air Force calling it a rare test against a Western-designed jet.
- On August 23, 2026, the Chinese PLA Air Force and Egyptian Air Force began combat drills for the Eagles of Civilization 2026 exercise, marking the first time Chinese J-16 jets trained against French-made Rafales.
- To reach Egypt, the PLA Air Force flew more than 6,000km over nine hours, crossing four countries while testing long-range force projection and rapid equipment unloading within a single day.
- Advanced Chinese J-16 jets face a rare combat test against Western-designed Rafale platforms, as Chinese pilots previously tested these French-made fighters during the India-Pakistan conflict last year.
- Before flight training, pilots from both nations held joint briefings on aircraft characteristics and safety protocols, while participating aircrews conduct joint sorties to develop shared operational concepts.
- Eagles of Civilization 2026 represents the second joint air training program between China and Egypt, with the exercise held across several Egyptian air bases continuing for several days of theoretical and practical training.
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11 Articles
Rafales face China's J-16 jets in rare drill: Why India is watching closely
Chinese J-16 fighters engaged in direct aerial combat drills against Rafale jets for the first time during a joint military exercise between China and Egypt. For India, the exercise carries significance well beyond a routine military drill. Here's why.
(Beijing=Yonhap News) Correspondent Jung Sung-jo = In a joint military exercise between China and Egypt, the Chinese military's main fighter jet, the J-16, and the Egyptian military's Rafale fighter jet engaged in a simulated aerial combat...
China’s Fighter Jet Gets Rare Chance to Face Rafales in Exercise
China’s advanced J-16 fighter is set to train alongside Rafales, offering a rare opportunity to test its capabilities against a Western platform after China’s J-10 drew attention for its combat performance against the French maker’s planes in the India-Pakistan conflict last year.
China's J-16 faces off with Rafale in Egypt drills
Chinese J-16 fighter jets engaged in combat exercises with French-made Rafale fighters for the first time on August 23, 2026, according to China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, marking a rare opportunity for Chinese pilots to test their aircraft against a Western-designed platform. Video footage released by the PLA Air Force showed Chinese pilots operating J-16 jets alongside Rafale fighters from the Egyptian Air Force. PLAAF J-16 a…
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