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J-16 fighters debut in China-Egypt joint drills in Africa, showcasing strong overseas deployment capability: expert_我的网站
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Notably, the exercise marks the first time China's J-16 heavy fighter jets have traveled to Africa for the China-Egypt joint training.
The joint training marks the second such exercise between the two air forces. The PLA Air Force has deployed multiple types of aircraft in an integrated and systematic formation, including fighter jets, aerial refueling aircraft, special-mission aircraft and helicopters, according to the PLA Air Force.
A video attached to the PLA Air Force release, filmed through the window of a YY-20A aerial refueling aircraft, showed a Chinese J-16 fighter jet being refueled in mid-air. Another scene showed that the YY-20A hosted in-flight refueling for two J-16s at the same time. According to the release, the aerial refueling took place en route to Egypt.
The growing types of more capable aircraft deployed in the China-Egypt joint training highlighted the PLA Air Force's capabilities to carry out rapid intercontinental strategic deployments of tactical aircraft, also demonstrating its strong overseas strategic deployment capabilities, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Friday.
Song said that the J-16 heavy fighter jets' first participation in the China-Egypt joint air force training marks an upgrade from last year's deployment of medium-sized J-10Cs in the drill, reflecting broader and more advanced overseas training by the Chinese Air Force.
As a mainstay heavy fighter, the J-16 also gains valuable experience operating in unfamiliar environments, while also reflecting efforts to expose more frontline aircraft to different geographical, climatic and operational conditions through overseas joint training, the expert noted.
Unlike the J-10C, which focuses more on air superiority, the J-16 is more capable in terms of striking ground and maritime targets and carrying a heavier weapons load. Its participation could therefore expand the training to more complex multirole combat scenarios, Song said.
The PLA Air Force formation traveled more than 6,000 kilometers across two continents and four countries during a nearly nine-hour flight to Egypt. Upon arrival, personnel quickly unloaded supplies, organized equipment and carried out coordination work to prepare for training flights, according to the PLA Air Force.
The cross-border integrated deployment and rapid loading and unloading operations tested the PLA Air Force's long-range projection, agile deployment and system-of-systems operational capabilities, the release said.
A member of the PLA Air Force said that during the deployment, the aerial refueling aircraft not only carried out mid-air refueling missions but also served as an airborne command node.
The Chinese Air Force's participation in joint training in Egypt for two consecutive years with a system of forces showed that long-range overseas training is moving from capability validation toward greater maturity and normalization, Song said.
This also reflects China's progress in building a strategic air force and extending its ability to safeguard its overseas interests, while showcasing the military confidence of China as a responsible major country, Song noted.
The Chinese and Egyptian air forces will hold Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint training in Egypt from mid-August to early September. The training will focus on subjects including air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat search and rescue, and will include force employment drills, the Chinese defense ministry said.
Recently, the PLA Air Force has participated in a series of joint exercises and training activities. In August, the Air Force has announced joint training with four countries - Belarus, Thailand, Egypt and the UAE.
Following the completion of China-Thailand Falcon Strike 2026 joint air force training on Thursday, the PLA Air Force is set to kick off the "Falcon Shield 2026" joint training with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Hotan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to the Chinese defense ministry.
Meanwhile, the PLA Air Force announced on Thursday that the China-Belarus Swift Eagle 2026 airborne joint training, which opened at a PLA Air Force training center on August 12, entered its comprehensive exercise phase on Wednesday.
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AG.AL's victory was not decided until the final stage of the competition. In the last event, Trackmania, French player Gwen held his nerve under pressure to claim the title, helping AG.AL overtake Saudi Arabian club Team Falcons in the standings and secure the overall championship.
This victory reflects a new trend in global esports competition: competition among top clubs is no longer determined solely by one popular game or a single star player, but by a club's overall capabilities in multi-title strategy, talent development and global operations.
For AG, the title was not just a last-minute breakthrough, but the result of a global strategy that had been developed over years.
"Although the tournament itself lasted only around two months, we had been preparing for it for more than two years," Chen Longsheng (EDDY), AG.AL VP&COO, told the Global Times on Monday. He said AG began expanding its overseas esports operations around the EWC in 2024, selecting promising players from around the world and now covering more than 20 esports titles.
This multi-title strategy is also closely linked to EWC's unique competition format. Unlike traditional esports tournaments that often focus on a single major game, EWC adopts a club-based ranking system covering multiple titles, including Honor of Kings, CrossFire, and Trackmania. AG.AL competed in more than 10 events, accumulating points across different competitions before completing its comeback in the final stage, according to AG.
Chen said the format has also changed how clubs evaluate the value of different esports titles.
"From our perspective, there is no absolute distinction between major and minor titles. As long as players in a game have the ability and passion, they can help the club earn valuable points," he said.
He noted that titles such as Tekken and Trackmania may have smaller audiences compared with some mainstream esports games, but outstanding players in these fields can still become important contributors to a club's championship ambitions because they offer the same opportunity to earn crucial points.
Under this new competitive environment, esports clubs are also shifting from building teams around a single title toward developing more diverse talent systems.
However, for an esports club competing on the global stage, finding the right players is only the first step. Building a stable team among players from different countries and regions, while ensuring smooth operations at international tournaments, also tests a club's management capabilities.
"Cross-border operations involve challenges including language communication, contract arrangements, legal regulations, and player support," Chen said. "Different countries have different legal environments and salary systems, and coordinating all of these issues is actually very complicated."
According to AG, during this year's EWC, staff members followed the teams throughout the process, from players' arrival in Paris, to training arrangements, communication with tournament organizers, post-match interviews and their departure.
"Fans see the players on stage, but behind them there are many operations staff ensuring that the entire team runs smoothly," Chen said.
AG's own development journey also reflects the changes that have taken place in China's esports industry over the past two decades.
In 2001, AG's predecessor won the StarCraft title at the World Cyber Games (WCG) Grand Finals, earning China's first world-level esports gold medal. Twenty-five years later, AG once again reached the top of an international competition. But the way esports is contested has changed dramatically - from battles centered around individual games to competition among global clubs based on talent, operations, and broader ecosystems.
"Over the past two decades, Chinese esports have gradually moved beyond the era when success depended mainly on individual players or a single game title, and developed into a more mature ecosystem involving clubs, professional leagues, content creation, commercial partnerships, and international exchanges," Shanghai-based esports commentator Natto told the Global Times on Monday.
According to Natto, the growing international presence of Chinese esports clubs also reflects a broader change in how the industry views overseas markets.
"Going global is not only about sending teams abroad to compete," Natto said. "It also means understanding different audiences, building communication channels and allowing more people to see the diversity of Chinese esports."
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Published on:13:29:05