Exercises Military Diplomacy

China-Belarus Swift Eagle 2026 Joint Training in Full Swing

China Military Online (EN) 20 August 2026

Summary

PLA Air Force airborne troops and Belarusian airborne forces began the Swift Eagle 2026 joint training at an unspecified PLA Air Force training center, moving into a comprehensive full-element drill phase on August 19 after a preliminary period of mixed task-group exercises focused on counter-terrorism tactics and coordinated operations procedures. The exercise extends a bilateral airborne training series with Belarus, a pattern that documents China's effort to build interoperability with post-Soviet militaries outside the SCO framework, though the article names no specific PLA units or Belarusian formations, leaving the scale and command structure of the exercise unconfirmed.

Translation

BEIJING, Aug. 20 -- The Swift Eagle 2026 joint training of airborne troops from China and Belarus has been underway over the past few days in a training center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force. Troops from both sides operated in mixed task groups during the preliminary training. They conducted specialized training on designated subjects, standardized procedures for coordinated operations, and refined tactics, in a bid to sharpen their capabilities in joint counter-terrorism operations. During the joint training, the two sides also organized cultural and sports exchange activities, including football matches and tug-of-war games, to strengthen mutual understanding and trust. The joint training entered the comprehensive drill phase on August 19. During this phase, the two sides will conduct a full-element drill under realistic combat conditions, with a focus on honing the participating troops' combat capabilities in joint command and coordinated operations.

Original text

BEIJING, Aug. 20 --The Swift Eagle 2026 joint training of airborne troops from China and Belarus has been underway over the past few days in a training center of the Chinese PLA Air Force. Troops from both sides operated in mixed task groups during the preliminary training. They conducted specialized training on designated subjects, standardized procedures for coordinated operations, and refined tactics, in a bid to sharpen their capabilities in joint counter-terrorism operations. During the joint training, the two sides also organized cultural and sports exchange activities, including football matches and tug-of-war games, to strengthen mutual understanding and trust. The joint training entered the comprehensive drillphase on August 19. During this phase, the two sides will conduct a full-element drill under realistic combat conditions, with a focus on honing the participating troops' combat capabilities in joint command and coordinated operations.