Global Markets
Home›Global Markets›Europe›China and Egypt hold joint air force combat training e…
China and Egypt hold joint air force combat training exercise
The training follows a reported long-range deployment of Chinese J-16 fighter jets to Egypt, including in-flight aerial refuelling before landing on Aug. 21.
Chinese fighter jets conducted combat training with their Egyptian counterparts in a joint air force exercise after a major deployment by China’s air force to the Middle East, according to SCMP Economy.
The exercise, part of the second China-Egypt “Eagles of Civilisation” joint air force training, began on Saturday and is expected to run until early next month, with the drill described as testing long-range force projection and rapid deployment capabilities.
SCMP Economy reported that the J-16s flew more than 6,000km over nine hours, crossing four countries on the way to Egypt, and that during the flight they conducted aerial refuelling from YU-20 tankers before landing at an airbase on Aug. 21.
After arrival, the PLA Air Force unloaded supplies, sorted equipment and coordinated briefings within a single day to begin training missions, and a participating pilot, Ning Yiming, was quoted by SCMP Economy saying the joint exercises provide a platform to improve combat capabilities.