Chinese J-16 fighter jets have engaged French-made Rafale aircraft in direct aerial combat drills for the first time during the China-Egypt Eagles of Civilisation exercise. The rare exercise has drawn attention in India, particularly because of the growing military cooperation between China and Pakistan.
The drills began on August 22, with Chinese J-16s conducting one-on-one combat exercises against Egyptian Rafales. Egypt’s MiG-29 fighters also participated. Both the J-16 and Rafale are 4.5-generation aircraft equipped with advanced radar, avionics and electronic warfare systems.
The J-16 is a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter developed by China’s Aviation Industry Corporation. It is designed for long-range missions and can carry a larger weapons load than China’s J-10 series.
The exercise is particularly relevant for India after last year’s Operation Sindoor, during which Indian Rafales faced Pakistan’s Chinese-origin J-10 fighters. Pakistan currently operates J-10C and JF-17 aircraft and has reportedly shown interest in acquiring the J-16.
India is also considering the acquisition of 114 additional Rafale fighters from France. However, Indian Rafales feature country-specific upgrades, meaning their capabilities are not identical to the aircraft operated by Egypt.
China’s growing defence cooperation with Pakistan adds another layer to India’s interest. Beijing has acknowledged providing technical assistance and intelligence support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
The China-Egypt exercise could therefore provide valuable insights into the J-16’s capabilities and its performance against the Rafale. With China expanding its air power and defence ties with Pakistan, Indian defence planners are likely to monitor the lessons emerging from the exercise closely.
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