China’s J-16 fighter jet pilots reveal how they faced six French Rafale and Russian MiG-29 fighters with just four jets in African airspace

In a recently disclosed military training exercise, Chinese fighter pilots revealed details about how a small flight of four J-16 jets engaged a larger force of six Egyptian combat aircraft over North African airspace.

• Chinese and Egyptian air forces participated in the Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint air exercise over North Africa.
• Four Chinese J-16 jets engaged six Egyptian aircraft, including Rafale and MiG-29M fighters, overcoming a numerical disadvantage using airborne warning and electronic warfare.
• The Chinese contingent prioritized long-range tactics, radar tracking, and missile evasion rather than close-range combat.
• Chinese electronic jamming played a key role, impressing Egyptian pilots with their timing and effectiveness.

The joint air exercise, designated Eagles of Civilization 2026, took place in Egypt from mid-August to early September.

During a simulated beyond-visual-range combat scenario, the four Chinese J-16 jets faced off against two French-supplied Rafale fighters and four Russian-supplied MiG-29M jets flown by the Egyptian Air Force.

To overcome the three-to-two numerical disadvantage, the Chinese contingent relied on airborne early warning support from a KJ-500 command aircraft, alongside specialized electronic warfare tactics and aerial refueling.

China and Egypt test air combat skills in high-stakes joint exercises

During the third day of the exercise, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the Chinese contingent deployed advanced tactical coordination to match their opponents.

Rather than focusing purely on close-range maneuvering, the engagement prioritized long-range radar tracking, situational awareness, and missile evasion timelines.

According to Chinese pilot Wei Yuexin, as reported by Military Watch Magazine, the aircrew remained focused on timing and teamwork rather than the size or type of the opposing fleet.

Wei explained: “When the air battle started, we forgot about the numerical disadvantage and forgot that they might be Rafales."

"We only remembered the timeline for missile evasion. We just needed to evade their weapons, and through tactical coordination, we made up for the numerical gap.”

Chinese pilot reveals how electronic tactics impressed Egyptian aviators

Beyond flight maneuvers, electronic countermeasures played a critical role during the simulated engagement.

The Chinese team used specialized electronic jamming capabilities to disrupt threat detection and complicate target tracking for opposing sensors.

Wei noted that Egyptian aviators expressed significant interest in these electronic jamming techniques during post-flight debriefings.

Wei recalled: “What impressed me most was how much they appreciated and were interested in our use of electronic jamming. They thought our timing and jamming capability were excellent.”

Another Chinese pilot noted that Egyptian personnel praised China's aviation technology, stating: “When we chatted, they praised not only our skills but also our J-16 fighters and PL-15 missiles. I could feel it in their eyes. They were giving a thumbs-up to our country's development.”

Military Watch Magazine revealed that training session concluded with extended evening discussions at the airfield, where pilots from both nations analyzed tactical maneuvers and weapon capabilities late into the night.