Chinese J-16 fighter jets trained against Egyptian Rafale jets in simulated dogfights for the first time during the Eagles of Civilization 2026 exercise in Egypt.

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Chinese J-16 fighter jets trained against Egyptian Rafale jets in simulated dogfights for the first time during the Eagles of Civilization 2026 exercise in Egypt. This marks the first time any Chinese fighter has conducted combat drills against a Western-built platform. China deployed roughly six J-16s along with YY-20A tankers, a KJ-500 early warning aircraft, and support assets, flying over 6,000 km to reach Egypt.