Military Watch Magazine

Chinese J-16 Pilot Recalls How He Defeated French Rafale and Russian MiG-29M Jets While Outnumbered

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force has disclosed further details of its joint air training exercise with Egypt, including simulated beyond-visual-range engagements in which J-16 fighters faced a numerically greater force of Egyptian Air Force French-supplied Rafale and Russian-supplied MiG-29M combat aircraft. Footage broadcast by Chinese state media on October 11 revealed how the Chinese contingent employed a KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft to coordinate its J-16 fighter operations, while also highlighting the use of electronic warfare and aerial refuelling during the exercise. The training, designated Eagles of Civilization 2026, took place in Egypt from mid-August to early September and provided an opportunity for the two air forces to assess their respective capabilities under simulated combat conditions.