Chinese J-16 fighter jets engaged in combat exercises with French-made Rafale fighters for the first time on August 23, 2026, according to China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, marking a rare opportunity for Chinese pilots to test their aircraft against a Western-designed platform.
Video footage released by the PLA Air Force showed Chinese pilots operating J-16 jets alongside Rafale fighters from the Egyptian Air Force.
PLAAF J-16 and EAF Rafale in a dogfight. pic.twitter.com/ZY50qmeByy
— dafeng cao (@dafengcao) August 24, 2026
J-16’s Rafale test follows J-10’s combat record in South Asia
The exercise marked the first time any Chinese fighter jet has taken part in combat drills against the Rafale, one of the most well-known French military aircraft and a flagship offering from manufacturer Dassault Aviation.
The J-16, developed by Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), is a heavyweight, multirole fighter widely regarded as one of China’s most capable combat aircraft, able to carry more firepower than medium-weight jets like the J-10 series.
According to the PLA Air Force, August 23, 2026 marked the first day of flight training under the joint exercise, with the day’s drills focused on one-on-one aerial combat. As aircraft from both air forces took off in succession, pilots engaged in intensive maneuvers under what the Chinese side described as combat-realistic conditions.
Before training began, pilots from both countries held briefings on their respective aircraft’s characteristics and discussed shared protocols covering flight safety, airspace control, takeoff and landing procedures, and emergency response.
The matchup follows heightened attention on Chinese fighter jets’ performance against French-made aircraft after China’s J-10 drew notice for its combat performance against Rafales during the India-Pakistan conflict last year, making this exercise a closely watched test of the more advanced J-16 against the same French platform.
Egypt-China drills expand beyond aerial dogfighting
The exercise, known as “Eagles of Civilization 2026,” is a joint air training program between China and Egypt, held across several air bases in Egypt starting August 22, 2026.
According to Egypt’s State Information Service, the exercise is expected to run for several days and includes both theoretical and practical training for personnel from both countries, with the goal of establishing shared operational concepts and improving coordination between the two air forces.
Participating forces are conducting joint air sorties and training on the planning and management of joint air combat operations, while also using the exercise as an opportunity to exchange experience and develop operational skills. The PLA Air Force has contributed a combined force that includes fighter jets, tanker aircraft, combat support aircraft, and helicopters.
This year’s edition marks the second Eagles of Civilization exercise between China and Egypt, following an earlier round in 2025, during which China sent its J-10 fighters rather than the J-16.
The exercise forms part of the Egyptian Armed Forces’ broader joint training program with partner militaries and is intended to strengthen military cooperation between Egypt and China.