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Albee Zhang

Fresh off a joint air drill, China will for the first time showcase several PLA Air Force aircraft overseas at an air show this week.
The featured aircraft were selected for the air show in Egypt to demonstrate the air force’s integrated combat abilities and export potential, according to a military analyst.
China’s armed forces on Tuesday posted pictures of Z-20, J-16, YY-20, and KJ-500 with its social media postings about the El Alamein International Airshow. The PLA Air Force said the involvement would “increase friendship and mutual trust, and strengthen diversified military cooperation between the two armed forces”.
The event gets under way on Tuesday and runs until Thursday. It follows the China-Egypt Eagles of Civilisation joint training exercise, which began in late August and ended earlier this month.
According to Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), China sent six J-16 fighters, two YY-20A aerial-refuelling tankers, two Y-20 heavy transport aircraft, one KJ-500 early-warning and control plane, and two Z-20K helicopters for the exercise.
SIS also posted photos of the J-16 and KJ-500 in statements about the air show.




Song Zhongping, a Chinese military commentator and former People’s Liberation Army instructor, said all this equipment was expected to be displayed at the air show.
“This is a breakthrough. It is to fully demonstrate integrated combat capabilities,” Song said.
He added that among those with export potential were the KJ-500, Y-20, YY-20 and Z-20.
“This equipment can be exported because China’s production capacity can be further expanded, not just fulfilling its own needs, but also meeting the demands of the international market,” he said.


For the first Egypt air show in 2024, China sent seven J-10 aerobatic aircraft from the August 1st Aerobatic Team and one Y-20 transport aircraft.
Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military analyst and former air force officer, said this should be the first time the J-16, KJ-500 and Z-20 had been seen at an overseas air show.
The participation was also unusual for the number of aircraft that will be on show.
“Half the time, only a mock-up is displayed,” Fu said.
But both analysts said China was unlikely to export the heavyweight J-16.
It is not certain whether China will put the J-16 on display at the Zhuhai air show in December, which is a prime event for weapons exports.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China sold an unknown number of KJ-500s to Pakistan last year but they have yet to be delivered.
Pakistan is also one of two foreign operators of its medium-weight J-10CE fighter jets. Uzbekistan is the other and Bangladesh is set to become the third.


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No official word on which equipment will feature, but event comes just days after the end of a joint drill between the armed forces


No official word on which equipment will feature, but event comes just days after the end of a joint drill between the armed forces.


Chinese PLA aircraft to headline Egypt air show in display of export potential

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}No official word on which equipment will feature, but event comes just days after the end of a joint drill between the armed forces

No official word on which equipment will feature, but event comes just days after the end of a joint drill between the armed forces