Egypt Daily News – According to the consensus reached by the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, the PLA Air Force will send a detachment to Egypt to hold the China-Egypt “Civilized Eagle-2025” joint air force training from mid-April to early May. This is the first joint training organized by the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, which is of great significance to promoting practical cooperation between the two militaries and enhancing friendship and mutual trust between the two militaries.
This joint training exercise marks a strategic step reflecting the growing level of military cooperation between Egypt and China. According to military experts, the training is expected to include joint air sorties and an exchange of expertise in aerial combat and modern tactics. While the specific aircraft types and training locations have not been officially announced, it is likely that multirole fighter jets from both sides will participate.
A statement from China’s Ministry of Defense noted that this is the first joint air force drill between the two countries, emphasizing its importance in strengthening practical cooperation, mutual trust, and the friendly ties between their militaries.
National Security and Defense Readiness
Strategic expert Ahmed Tharwat, stressed that “military drills between different countries are a fundamental part of ensuring national security and defense readiness.”
He added, “If we look at the Egypt-China drills, they have a direct impact on the region. They can influence regional stability and the balance of power, while aiming to enhance coordination and interoperability between the two armed forces.”
Tharwat went on to explain that such joint exercises enable both countries to boost their military capabilities and work together in various military scenarios, such as counterterrorism operations, peacekeeping missions, or others. This, he said, not only strengthens their defense capacity but also deepens their bilateral relations.
He continued, “Furthermore, the military exercises between Egypt and China act as a deterrent to potential threats or external aggression, sending a clear message to any possible adversaries that both nations are prepared to defend their interests and sovereignty. This contributes to maintaining regional stability and preventing the escalation of conflicts.”
A Broader Message to the World
Major General Osama Mahmoud Kabeer, military and strategic expert and advisor at the Command and Staff College, said that while Egypt and China have long-standing diplomatic, economic, and trade relations, this type of joint military drill is relatively new.
He noted that China had responded to an Egyptian invitation to attend the International Air and Air Defense Systems Exhibition held in Alamein in August 2024. Now that large-scale joint air drills are now indeed underway, he believes the exercises carry significant messages amid an 18-month-long crisis in the Middle East that he described as catastrophic.
According to the general, these drills also send signals beyond the region. “China, that traditionally quiet global player which was drawn into a trade war by the Trump administration, is now asserting its presence in the Middle East, not economically this time, but militarily.
It’s showing the world that its military reach extends to areas of strategic interest to the United States, through participation with advanced transport aircraft and potentially top-tier fighter jets like the J-10C,” he said.
KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft arrives in Egypt
For the first time, the Chinese Air Force has deployed its KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft to Egypt to take part in the joint military drills “Eagle Salute 2025” alongside the Egyptian Air Force. This move marks a significant strengthening of military cooperation between the two nations.
The joint exercise follows a notable Chinese presence at the Egypt International Airshow, which included performances by the Chinese “Bayi” aerobatic team. Subsequently, six Y-20 strategic transport aircraft arrived in Egypt, drawing strategic attention to China’s growing influence in the region.
The KJ-500’s radar system is known for its ability to detect a wide range of aerial threats, including stealth aircraft. China continues to advance its radar technology to improve its capacity to track and monitor modern air platforms.
Despite ongoing reports suggesting that Egypt has acquired Chinese J-10C fighter jets, China has officially denied that any such deliveries have taken place.
A Message to Israel
He added that this exercise also sends a message to Israel, which is likely watching the drills closely with concern. “The involvement of China the world’s third-strongest military power and a major arms manufacturer, in joint exercises with Egypt, the most powerful military force in the Middle East and Arab world, is significant, especially given Egypt’s firm opposition to the recent proposal to forcibly relocate Palestinians from their land, and its unwavering support for the establishment of a Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he concluded.
