China’s J-16s face off against Egypt’s Rafales in combat drills as Iran war rumbles on

Chinese fighter jets have conducted combat training with their Egyptian counterparts in a joint exercise following a major Chinese air force deployment to the Middle East.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force deployed J-16 fighter jets, YU-20 aerial tankers, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft and Z-20 helicopters.

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The aircraft flew more than 6,000km (3,730 miles) over nine hours to reach Egypt, crossing four countries, according to a report by state broadcaster CCTV. However, it did not specify which four countries the PLA Air Force aircraft flew over, or whether their route approached Iran or any Persian Gulf nations.

“Through cross-border deployment and rapid loading and unloading operations, the exercise tested the air force’s capabilities in long-range force projection, rapid deployment and integrated operations,” CCTV reported.

During the flight, the J-16s conducted aerial refuelling from YU-20 tankers before landing at an airbase in Egypt on August 21, the report said.

The PLA Air Force then unloaded supplies, sorted equipment and coordinated briefings ready for training missions within a single day, according to the report.

“The joint exercises have provided a valuable platform for us pilots to improve our combat capabilities,” Ning Yiming, a pilot taking part in the drill, was quoted as saying.