The Y-20 and seven J-10 aircraft took off from an unnamed airport in northwestern China on Monday, according to state news agency Xinhua.
It will be the Y-20’s overseas air performance debut and the first appearance in Africa for the J-10 team from the PLA Air Force’s Bayi Aerobatics Team.
China and Egypt confirmed the performance would take place at El Alamein International Airport on the country’s northern coast 160km west of Alexandria.
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Wang Mingzhi, a Chinese military specialist, said the long-haul deployment reflected the Chinese air force’s “long-range mobility, delivery capabilities and combat-oriented training level”.
“The transfer range … [is] across many time zones, with rapid changes in temperature and security difficulties. It will test the pilots’ flight ability and their physical endurance, and showcase the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s ability in long-range manoeuvres, delivery and combat-oriented training,” he said.
The J-10 – also known as the Firebird – is China’s first domestic advanced jet fighter. It is a medium-weight, single-engine jet fighter designed to operate in all weather.
The Y-20, nicknamed the “chubby girl”, is a transport aircraft that can carry out long-distance air transport of goods and personnel, while its Y-20U variant can refuel other Chinese military aircraft.
According to Xinhua, Y-20 pilot Yuan Bo said the crew had streamlined and optimised its cargo while meeting the mission requirements, and had designed specific flying moves for the mission.
Earlier this year, air force official Li Shining told state broadcaster CCTV that the aircraft showcased the air force’s “strategic transformation and development”, and would help pursue the goal of “all-domain operations and global reach”.
The PLA Air Force’s high-profile presence in Egypt coincides with the Middle East and North Africa region’s growing interest in buying arms from China, shifting some of their procurement away from traditional Western suppliers.
Before performing in Egypt, the Bayi team conducted similar air shows in both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, but this will be the team’s first performance on the African continent.
In 2022, Saudi Arabia signed a US$4 billion arms agreement with China, including deals for armed drones, ballistic missiles and anti-drone laser-based systems, according to Bloomberg.
Beijing sealed a deal with Abu Dhabi the same year for the L-15 advanced trainer jet.
Beyond the Middle East, China’s influence extends into North Africa and the broader African continent
Last year, Egypt reportedly expressed interest in buying the J-10 to diversify its West-dominated suppliers. The country is looking to advance talks that started with China in 2022 over the purchase of around 12 of the latest versions of the J-10.
Cairo has also bought dozens of China’s Wing Loong-1D drones.
Along with Israel and Turkey, China has become a leading power in UAV sales on the continent. It is also a major exporter to sub-Saharan Africa of battle tanks and armoured vehicles.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a military think tank, China was the largest arms supplier for sub-Saharan Africa in 2019-23, with a 19 per cent share of the arms imports, narrowly overtaking Russia, the traditional arms seller to the subregion, which accounts for 17 per cent in the same period.
