China and Egypt have launched their first-ever joint military exercise, Eagles of Civilization 2025, which began on Sunday, April 20, and will continue through mid-May, according to The War Zone.
Egypt is hosting the drills at its Wadi Abu Rish airbase and has contributed its fleet of russian-made MiG-29M/M2 fighter jets. China, in turn, has deployed J-10C and J-10B fighters, a KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, and a Y-20U aerial refueling tanker. The exercise is a rare opportunity to directly compare the MiG-29M2 with the J-10C.
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These maneuvers come amid growing speculation that Egypt may be considering a purchase of the J-10C, making this exercise a valuable opportunity for the Egyptian military to evaluate the Chinese jet’s capabilities firsthand.
For China, the drills serve a dual purpose. Strategically, they allow Beijing to advance its geopolitical goals at a time when the United States, due to its own mistakes, risks losing Egypt as a long-standing ally and arms customer.
Besides, the Chinese Air Force will also be able to try out methods of operating against MiG-29 variants, which remain a cornerstone of India’s airpower, one of China’s key regional rivals.
Notably, the exercises are being held less than 100 kilometers from the Suez Canal, which reflects China’s growing ambitions in projecting power across Africa and along major global shipping routes.
The deployment itself is also telling: Chinese aircraft flew the entire 6,000-kilometer journey to Egypt, demonstrating China’s expanding reach and operational logistics far beyond its immediate region.
This joint exercise unfolds in a complex geopolitical environment. Cairo, onthe one hand, wants to keep receiving annual military aid packages from the United States, which amounted to $1.5 billion in 2024. On the other, it also pushes back against U.S. pressure related to the war in Gaza Strip, particularly regarding the potential relocation of Palestinian civilians.
Defense Express adds that Egypt currently operates 46 MiG-29M/M2 aircraft. This upgraded variant differs from the baseline model by its ability to carry R-77-1 air-to-air missiles and precision-guided air-to-surface munitions.
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