Chinese J-16 multirole fighters arrived at an Egyptian airbase on Friday morning for the Eagles of Civilisation 2026 joint drill. The 6,000-km (3,700-mile) journey took nine hours and required mid-air refuelling.
Arrival and Journey
The planes and aviators travelled from China to Egypt, stopping for aerial refuelling en route. The People’s Liberation Army said the crews had begun preparations for the exercise well before the arrival.
First African Deployment
This marks the J-16’s inaugural deployment in Africa. The aircraft has previously appeared in overseas drills with Russia and Pakistan, but this is the first time it has operated alongside the Egyptian Air Force.
Focus of the Exercise
The Chinese defence ministry stated that the drill would concentrate on air combat tactics and air superiority operations. The exercise is scheduled to finish early next month, following the initial joint exercise with Egypt last year when J-10C fighters were deployed.
