China-Egypt "Civilization Eagle-2026" Air Force Joint Training Marks First Flight Day

中埃“文明之鹰-2026”空军联合训练迎来首个飞行日

PLA Daily (解放军报) 24 August 2026

Summary

Chinese Air Force J-16 fighters, along with tankers, special-mission aircraft, and helicopters deployed as an integrated system, flew the first training day of 'Civilization Eagle-2026' at an Egyptian Air Force base on August 23, conducting 1-vs-1 and 2-vs-2 air combat engagements with Egyptian counterparts ahead of planned air superiority and combat search-and-rescue exercises. This is the second iteration of the series, establishing it as a recurring bilateral format rather than a one-off event. The dispatch of a multi-type, multi-role package — rather than fighters alone — documents the PLAAF's practice of deploying expeditionary composite air groups in joint exercises, though the specific units, aircraft numbers, and Egyptian platforms involved are not identified in the report.

First reported deployment of J-16 fighters to Egypt for bilateral air combat training, with China participating as an integrated multi-type package including tankers and special-mission aircraft — a level of expeditionary air force integration with an Arab partner not previously documented in open sources.

Translation

Xinhua News Agency, Cairo, August 24 (Yan Chao, Deng Dongzhi) — On August 23 local time, the China-Egypt "Civilization Eagle-2026" air force joint training held its first flight day at an Egyptian Air Force base.

Amid a thunderous roar, Chinese Air Force J-16 fighter aircraft and Egyptian Air Force aircraft taxied and took off. Both sides conducted medium-range and close-range air combat engagements against a combat-realistic backdrop.

It is understood that the Chinese Air Force dispatched multiple aircraft types — including fighters, tankers, special-mission aircraft, and helicopters — participating in the joint training as an integrated system. The two sides will focus on training subjects including air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat search and rescue, and will conduct force employment exercises.

"The joint training advances step by step from foundational air combat engagements of '1-vs-1' and '2-vs-2' toward system-of-systems joint operations, which is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding, technical and tactical proficiency, and combat capability among pilots on both sides," said Shen Hao, a pilot from an Air Force unit.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. This is the second time the two countries' air forces have held this series of joint training. The two air forces will continue to enhance mutual trust and traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

Original Chinese

新华社开罗8月24日电（闫超邓栋之）当地时间8月23日，中国与埃及两国空军“文明之鹰-2026”联合训练在埃及空军某基地，迎来首个飞行日。巨大的轰鸣声中，中国空军歼-16战机与埃及空军战机滑行升空。双方紧贴实战背景，展开中距、近距空战对抗。据了解，中国空军派出歼击机、加油机、特种机、直升机等多型战机，成体系参加这次联训。双方将重点开展空战战术、制空作战、战斗搜救等课目训练，并进行兵力运用演练。 “联训从‘1对1’和‘2对2’的基础性空战对抗，逐步向体系化的联合作战推进，有利于提升双方飞行员的默契度、技战术水平和实战能力。”空军某部飞行员沈浩介绍。今年是中埃两国建交70周年。这是两国空军第二次举办该系列联训。两国空军将持续增进互信与传统友谊，深化务实合作，共同维护地区和平稳定。