Recently, various advanced military aircraft from the Chinese Air Force traveled to Egypt to participate in the “Civilization Eagle-2025” joint military exercise, attracting significant attention from the outside world. The lineup for this deployment is far more complex than it appears on the surface.
✅ Systematic Deployment, Not Just Showcasing Equipment
The Chinese military aircraft participating in this exercise include:
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✈ Y-20 Strategic Transport Aircraft
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✈ KJ-500 Early Warning Aircraft
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✈ J-10C Multirole Fighter
From transport and command to combat, they form a small but complete modern air combat system. This is not about individual combat, but about system collaboration, which is the biggest highlight of the Chinese Air Force’s appearance this time.
For any country looking to upgrade its air force system, such a “full set demonstration” is more convincing than any brochure.
✈ The J-10C Fighter’s First Appearance in Africa is Significant
The J-10 series has previously been to Egypt, but those were modified J-10CY aircraft for display purposes. This time, the arrival is of the true J-10C combat variant:
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Equipped with an active phased array radar
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Capable of carrying PL-15 air-to-air missiles
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Possessing excellent beyond-visual-range strike capabilities
Moreover, this batch of J-10Cs did not arrive via Y-20 transport, but rather flew directly to Egypt, with multiple refuelings by the Y-20 along the way. This intercontinental deployment capability itself is a demonstration of combat strength.
🔁 Facing Off Against Rivals, Demonstrating Real Combat Power
This time, Egypt deployed the MiG-29M/M2 fighter jets:
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Although they have thrust vectoring, suitable for close combat
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Overall performance still lags behind the J-10C
Especially in terms of radar, missile range, and electronic warfare:
| Item | J-10C | MiG-29M/M2 |
|---|---|---|
| Missile Range | PL-15 (approximately 200km) | R-77 (approximately 100km) |
| Radar System | Active Phased Array Radar | Mechanical Scanning Radar |
| Combat System Support | Coordinated with KJ-500 Command | Primarily Independent Operations |
While there may be exciting “simulated confrontations”, the Chinese side’s focus is not on “winning”, but on fully demonstrating systematic combat capabilities.
🚀 What Is Being Exported Is Not Just Aircraft, But a Complete System
Modern air force construction is no longer as simple as buying a few aircraft.
What China is bringing this time is not just “products”, but also:
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Command and Dispatch System (KJ-500)
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Long-range Transport and Supply (Y-20)
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Combat Strike Capability (J-10C)
This is the key point we are showcasing: China can not only build aircraft but also export a complete modern air combat system.
🌍 Shifting the Landscape: Is This the “Breakthrough Point” for Chinese Military Trade?
For a long time, Egypt has been a traditional arms market for the US and Russia, making it difficult for China to penetrate.
But this time:
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Egypt disregarded Western pressure
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Openly invited China to participate in military exercises
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Deployed main combat aircraft to cooperate in the exercises
This itself is a signal: China-Egypt relations in the military trade sector are changing.
Of course, this does not mean that orders will be placed immediately. Behind arms trade lies the test of a country’s comprehensive influence and trust system. But this is precisely the core competitiveness that China has been striving to enhance in recent years.
✅ This Naval Deployment Exceeds Just a Military Exercise
“Civilization Eagle-2025” is not just a joint military exercise, but a systematic demonstration and a strategic layout at the national level.
In the future, similar actions will become more frequent, and each “deployment” may become an important step for Chinese military industry to reach the world.
To truly sell abroad, it is not just about how far the aircraft can fly, but about letting people see the strength of China behind it.