August 24, 2026

Chinese state media on Monday released footage from the first day of flight training held Saturday during the China-Egypt Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint training exercise, showing PLA J-16s engaging in air combat drills against Egyptian MiG-29 and Rafale fighters. A Chinese expert said this is the first joint exercise featuring both the J-16 and the Rafale, reflecting strong mutual trust and a high level of coordination between the two air forces.

The first day's training focused on one-on-one air combat between different aircraft types. As fighters from both air forces took off in succession, pilots engaged in intense confrontations under realistic combat scenarios, the CCTV News military channel reported.

Before the flight training, Chinese and Egyptian pilots delivered briefings on their respective aircraft capabilities. The two sides then held in-depth discussions on the exercise subjects, clarifying flight safety rules, airspace regulations, takeoff and landing procedures and emergency response plans, said the report.

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