On the First Day of Sino-Egyptian Air Force Joint Training, J-16 Engages "Rafale"

[Global Times Report, Reporter Guo Yuandan] The "People's Air Force" WeChat official account announced on the 24th that on August 23, Beijing time, the first flight training day of the China-Egypt "Civilization Eagle-2026" joint air force exercise commenced. On the first flight day of the China-Egypt air force joint training, the training subject was one-on-one combat between different types of aircraft. From the video released by the "People's Air Force," it can be seen that Chinese pilots flew the domestically developed J-16 heavy fighter jet in a confrontation exercise against the Egyptian Air Force's Rafale fighter jets. Military experts interviewed by the Global Times on the 24th stated that this joint training could effectively test our equipment and also provide firsthand experience of the Rafale fighter's performance.

According to the "People's Air Force," on the 23rd, as the aircraft of the China-Egypt air forces took off in succession, the pilots from both sides engaged in intense competition in a scenario close to actual combat. It was introduced that before the flight training, Chinese and Egyptian pilots conducted lectures to introduce the performance of the equipment used by both sides; subsequently, both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on the joint training subjects, clarifying flight safety rules, airspace control regulations, takeoff and landing methods, and emergency response plans.

Military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times reporter on the 24th that the J-16 is a twin-engine heavy multi-role fighter jet with a fuel capacity of over 9 tons. This aircraft has a long loitering time, a large payload, and its onboard radar has a longer detection range, providing significant advantages in medium to long-range combat. It is one of the models with the longest range among contemporary fighter jets worldwide. At the same time, the J-16 can adapt to various types of munitions and possesses strong ground and maritime strike capabilities, making it a true multi-role aircraft. Zhang Xuefeng stated, "The J-16's participation in joint training in Egypt not only fully validates the aircraft's actual capabilities for long-range deployment and cross-domain operations but also accumulates valuable practical training experience to counter threats from similar equipment in the surrounding area."

The China-Egypt "Civilization Eagle-2026" air force joint training has also attracted coverage from multiple foreign media outlets. Bloomberg reported on the 24th that, according to photos released by the Egyptian military, the J-16 and Rafale are conducting joint training in Egypt. The media mentioned that the Chinese J-10 fighter jet gained attention for its combat performance against the Rafale during last year's India-Pakistan conflict. The Saudi newspaper "Middle East" quoted a statement from the Egyptian military on the 24th, stating that the participating equipment in "Civilization Eagle-2026" includes various models of multi-role fighter jets, and the exercises will take place at several air force bases within Egypt over several days.

"The Rafale fighter jets equipped by the Egyptian Air Force may be of the F3 standard and can be equipped with active electronically scanned array radar, which is also the most advanced level of Western aircraft that the Chinese Air Force faces in joint training with foreign forces," Zhang Xuefeng stated. In air combat scenarios, the J-16 can efficiently seize air superiority, and under the cover of its electronic warfare aircraft, it can also penetrate enemy air defense systems to conduct precise strikes on ground targets. As a heavy fighter, the J-16 is equipped with two high-thrust, high-thrust-to-weight ratio engines, and its maneuverability is generally comparable to that of the medium-sized Rafale fighter, with each having its advantages, allowing for a thorough examination of both sides' tactical and technical application levels in close combat scenarios.