After much-hyped drills between J-16 and Egyptian Rafale fighter jets, now a Chinese language YY-20 tanker was noticed refueling an Egyptian Rafale plane, marking one other first-of-its-kind occasion.
The Spokesperson of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Ahmed Othman, revealed a photograph displaying a Chinese language PLAAF (Folks’s Liberation Military Air Pressure) YY-20 tanker refueling an Egyptian Rafale throughout aerial refueling coaching.
The occasion demonstrated “deepening interoperability between the 2 sides,” as China Army Bugle, the official press account of China’s armed forces, famous in a publish on X.
This marks the primary time a Chinese language aerial tanker had refueled a Western-origin fighter jet.
The YY-20 is likely one of the many plane the PLAAF dispatched for the continued train, alongside six J-16s, Y-20 transports, KJ-500 AEW&C plane, and different help property.
In actual fact, the tanker was instrumental in refueling the J-16s that traveled about 6,000 kilometers to Egypt for his or her maiden deployment to the Eagles of Civilization train.
Rafale meets YY-20:
China, Egypt proceed joint air power train ‘Eagles of Civilization 2026’
New photograph from @EgyArmySpox exhibits a Chinese language YY-20 tanker refueling an Egyptian Rafale fighter throughout aerial refuelling coaching of the “Eagles of Civilization-2026” joint train.… pic.twitter.com/Y5RPqLiuh2
— China Army Bugle (@ChinaMilBugle) August 31, 2026
“We now have affirmation that the Chinese language drogue refueling system put in on the PLAAF’s YY-20A aerial refuelling/tanker plane is suitable with the probes on Egypt’s French-built Rafale fighters. This isn’t actually stunning, however the Rafale is seemingly solely the second overseas fighter design to obtain gasoline from a Chinese language aerial refueling plane,” Army analyst Shahryar Pasandideh noted.
Earlier than this, the PLAAF YY-20 had offered mid-air refueling to the Egyptian MiG-29Ms through the 2025 iteration of the Eagles of Civilization drills.
Each the YY-20 and the Rafale use the probe-and-drogue methodology. This refueling method makes use of a versatile hose (or pipe) that extends from the tanker plane. On the slim finish of the hose is the drogue or basket, which serves as a funnel to facilitate the insertion of the receiver plane probe into the hose whereas in flight.
The probe, a inflexible, projecting, and pivotable retractable arm, is inserted into the drogue by the receiver pilot for refueling.
The Chinese language YY-20 deploys versatile hoses with drogues, usually from its under-wing pods. However, the Rafale is provided with a non-retractable refueling probe.
In precept, this makes bodily connection doable. Nevertheless, variations may exist within the tip design and probe dimensions, or within the measurement and conduct of the drogue basket. Moreover, the gasoline move charges and pressures, the connection procedures, stabilization speeds, and security protocols may additionally differ.
Towards that backdrop, the profitable contact between the 2 platforms through the train confirms sensible interoperability.
Notably, precedents exist for refueling between platforms from rival international locations.
As an example, a US KC-135 tanker plane refueled three Malaysian Su-30MKM fighter jets mid-flight in November 2024, because the EurAsian Instances reported on the time. Furthermore, Indian Rafales are frequently refueled by the Russian-origin IL-78 air-to-air refuellers.
YY-20’s refueling of a French-origin fighter jet is critical as a result of France considers China a menace within the Indo-Pacific and Beijing has positioned its fighter jets, notably the J-10C, as an reasonably priced different to the French Rafale within the export market.
In the meantime, it additional bolsters rising interoperability between the PLAAF and the Egyptian Air Pressure.
J-16 Took on Rafales in Egypt
Earlier this month, the Chinese language PLAAF simulated a high-stakes air battle, pitting eight J-16 fighters in opposition to six French-built Rafale jets through the “Eagles of Civilization 2026” drills.
Chinese language state media launched footage of the duel, displaying the J-16s working towards air warfare in opposition to Egyptian MiG-29 and Rafale fighters in real-world situations. The 2 sides reportedly engaged in each beyond-visual-range (BVR) fight and dogfighting.
No official kill ratios, scores, or “win or loss” tallies have been launched by the Chinese language PLA Air Pressure, the Chinese language Ministry of Nationwide Protection, the Egyptian Ministry of Protection, or impartial observers. Nevertheless, unverified claims on social media recommended that the J-16s beat Egyptian Rafales 7–1 on the primary day of flying, as EurAsian Instances reported earlier.
The one Rafale “kill” was gifted to Cairo, as a courtesy, extra for face-saving than anything, one of many Chinese language social media posts claimed. Nevertheless, these stats are purely imaginative, as neither China nor Egypt revealed an official scoreline.
The drills, nonetheless, grabbed headlines primarily as a result of Chinese language pilots hardly ever get dwell dissimilar coaching in opposition to fashionable Western fighters because of the geopolitical rivalry between Beijing and the West. Furthermore, a number of observers famous that the drills could also be an try by China to develop capabilities and techniques in opposition to the Rafale, a warplane its “adversary” India additionally operates.
These drills might have allowed Chinese language pilots to gauge the Rafale’s flight traits, fundamental weapon combos, medium- and close-range mobility, sensor conduct in engagements, and the way its techniques work together with Chinese language methods underneath lifelike situations. Nevertheless, analysts surmised that there is perhaps some variations within the EW suites, pilot coaching, help methods, and the weapons association, as these are usually not Indian Rafales.
“The Chinese language would probe the Egyptian Rafales. It should depend upon how a lot the Egyptians will give away. They’ll develop techniques in opposition to the Rafale. Lastly, it’s the man behind the machine that issues. We beat the US F15s in air fight within the first-ever train between IAF & USAF. They determined to speed up the F-22 to beat us. It was all around the US press,” IAF veteran and navy commentator, Group Captain Johnson Chacko (retd), instructed the EurAsian Instances.
“J-16 is a reverse-engineered Su-30, which can be operated by the IAF. Egyptian MiG-29s additionally participated. We’ve got all three. We’d have developed techniques in opposition to the J-16 (Su-30) by now, he added in a later interplay with the EurAsian Instances.
Furthermore, components resembling the foundations of engagement, simulated weapons or sensors, mission goals, pilot proficiency, and supporting property all considerably affect train outcomes in dissimilar air fight coaching. The outcomes of bilateral aerial drills don’t immediately point out which plane would prevail in precise fight.
