China has deployed J-10C fighter jets and Y-20 transport aircraft in its first-ever joint military exercise with Egypt. The two countries’ air forces are scheduled to hold the event, dubbed “Eagles of Civilization 2025,” from mid-April to early May over Egyptian airspace, Breaking Defense reported Tuesday.
In a separate report, the Egyptian news website Ahram Online said photos released by Chinese state media also showed a KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft. The Egyptian air force deployed Russian-made Mig-29M/M2 fighter jets, it added.
Chinese Aircraft Capabilities
Mohammed Soliman, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, told Breaking Defense that the presence of Chinese aircraft in the exercise bolsters the planes’ “global credibility” in long-distance missions and regional adaptability. He also noted that Egypt hosting the Chinese air force relays a clear signal to Washington about Cairo’s frustration with U.S. restrictions on modernizing the Egyptian F-16 fleet.
Expounding on Soliman’s viewpoint, David Des Roches, an associate professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies, points out that the Chinese-Egyptian air force exercise occurs amid Cairo’s concerns regarding the annual U.S. military aid that Egypt receives.
“The Trump administration is more skeptical toward foreign aid than previous administrations in the past, and the aid to Egypt is always viewed with skepticism within the United States, even when relations with Egypt are generally favorable,” Soliman said.
US Military Aid Cut
Informed sources told a Qatari newspaper that the United States has told Cairo of its plan to reduce Egyptian military aid following their differences on efforts to address Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip, according to the Militarny news website.
U.S. military assistance to Egypt announced recently includes a possible $304 million foreign military sale for AN/TPS-78 long-range radar systems and related logistics support, with Northrop Grumman as the prime contractor.