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Story summary
- China’s PLA Air Force deployed J-16 fighter jets to Egypt for Exercise “Eagles of Civilisation 2026”.
- The jets arrived at an Egyptian airbase on August 21 after a 6,000 km, nine-hour flight.
- YU-20 aerial tankers performed mid-air refuelling during the deployment.
- KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft and Z-20 helicopters joined the exercise.
- The mission marks the J-16’s first deployment to Africa and its first joint drill with the Egyptian Air Force.
