Egypt, China Launch Joint Air Combat Drills 'Eagles of Civilization 2026'

Egypt and China have initiated "Eagles of Civilization 2026," a significant joint air combat exercise marking a new phase of cooperation between the two nations. This is the second such drill in two years, signaling a substantial boost to their military relationship, according to Egyptian military and strategic experts.

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The training will focus on such subjects as air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat search and rescue, and will include force employment drills.

The exercises, which began on Saturday and will continue for several days across various Egyptian air bases, involve multiple types of multi-role fighter aircraft. The initial phases focus on theoretical and practical lectures to align combat concepts, followed by joint air sorties and training in planning and managing combined air operations. The stated aim is to exchange expertise and enhance the skills of participating forces, strengthening cooperation across diverse military fields.

Senior Colonel Chen Xi of China's Ministry of National Defense highlighted that the training, concluding in early September, will cover air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat search and rescue. He emphasized that this second iteration will further bolster mutual trust, traditional friendship, and substantive cooperation, contributing to regional peace and stability.

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As the second iteration of its kind, the joint training will further enhance mutual trust and traditional friendship, deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, and contribute to regional peace and stability.

Major General Samir Farag, a military and strategic expert, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the exercise directly strengthens military relations and reflects the success of the first iteration. He noted that the deployment of Chinese aircraft to Egypt for joint training demonstrates significant benefits for Beijing. Farag also pointed out Egypt's reputation for diverse partnerships and its extensive joint military exercises.

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Egypt is known for the diversity of its partnerships and is among the countries that conduct the largest number of joint military exercises.