Chinese J-16 fighters deploy to Egypt for joint exercise with Rafales, MiG-29s

China's air force has sent at least six Shenyang J-16 fighters to Egypt for a joint exercise called Eagles of Civilization II, according to Chinese state media coverage of the event. The drills involve Egyptian air force Dassault Rafale and RAC MiG-29 fighters and run until early September, taking place from multiple Egyptian bases.

It is the third time the J-16, a derivative of the Sukhoi Su-30, has deployed outside China. Earlier trips took it to a Russian exercise in 2021 and a Pakistani exercise in 2024. This is the type's first visit to Africa.

The deployment brought substantial support aircraft along with it: a Xian YY-20 aerial refuelling tanker, at least one Y-20 strategic transport, a Shaanxi KJ-200 and a KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, and a Harbin Z-20 utility helicopter. Flight tracking data cited in coverage of the deployment shows the formation routing through Karachi, then across the Arabian Sea, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea before arriving in Egypt. That path would have brought the aircraft near US forces enforcing a blockade against Iran.

China's defence ministry said the training would cover air combat tactics, air superiority operations, combat search and rescue, and force employment drills. The program starts with basic fighter manoeuvres before moving to more complex missions as crews from both air forces get to know one another. Officials described the exercise as the second in the series and said it was meant to build mutual trust between the two air forces.