CHINA showcased four of its aircraft at Egypt’s El Alamein International Airshow, marking the appearance as the first overseas public display of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force’s (PLAAF) KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, YY/YU-20A aerial refuelling tanker, J-16 fighter jet and Z-20K helicopter.
Invited by the Egyptian military, the PLA participated in the second edition of the event which was held from September 8-10 following their presence in the inaugural 2024 edition. Their participation this year also commemorates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) added that their participation aimed “to enhance friendly mutual trust and strengthen diversified military cooperation between the two militaries.”
Last month prior to the event, the PLAAF and Egyptian Air Force held the Eagles of Civilisation 2026 air exercise which involved Egyptian MiG-29 and Dassault Rafale fighters alongside Chinese J-16 fighters. “The training will focus on subjects such as air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat search and rescue, and will include force employment drills. As the second iteration of its kind, the joint training further enhances mutual trust and traditional friendship, deepens substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, and contributes to regional peace and stability,” said a China MND spokesperson.
The PLAAF fighters reportedly flew more than 6,000km over nine hours and refuelled in the air from its YY/YU-20 tankers before arriving at an Egyptian airbase. In the following days, the J-16s carried out one-on-one and two-on-two close and medium-range air combat drills against the Egyptian Rafales, which marked the J-16’s first deployment outside of Asia and likely its first bout with Western-built fighter aircraft. “The China-Egypt joint air training is progressing from basic one-on-one and two-on-two air combat to more systematic joint operations. As mutual understanding between pilots grows, they can more effectively exchange tactical concepts and operational techniques, which helps enhance the technical and tactical proficiency of both sides,” a PLAAF release stated.
In the exhibition hall, Chinese defence firms including Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), and China Aerospace Long-March International (ALIT), China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC) showcased their products to delegations from across the world.
Among the exhibits were a Wing Loong-10B unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on display at the outdoor exhibit, with the drone displayed alongside various armaments such as the YJ-9ER anti-radiation missile, the PL-12AE and PL-108 air-to-air missiles (AAM). The Wing Loong-10B has been in service with the Saudi Air Force as early as 2024.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:EGYPTIAN MILITARY, CHINAMIL BUGLE)
