A PLA YU-20 tanker refuels an Egyptian Rafale fighter. Picture: Screenshot from X account of an official army spokesperson for the Egyptian Armed Forces
A Chinese language Individuals’s Liberation Military (PLA) Air Pressure YU-20 tanker conducting aerial refueling of an Egyptian Rafale fighter throughout the on-going China-Egypt Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint coaching will be seen in a brand new photograph posted by an official army spokesperson for the Egyptian Armed Forces on social media platform X on Monday afternoon.
Wang Yanan, editor-in-chief of the Beijing-based Aerospace Information journal, advised the International Occasions on Monday {that a} YU-20 refueling a Rafale is a uncommon sight to behold.
The Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint coaching continues with the participation of quite a few multi-role fighter plane of varied sorts from each side. The coaching is being performed at a number of air bases in Egypt, mentioned the publish.
Plenty of joint sorties had been carried out to coach for air fight operations for attacking hostile targets and defending very important targets in accordance with the most recent air techniques. This contributes to the change of experience and the event of the abilities and capabilities of the pilots to work collectively in full concord and coordination amongst them, along with coaching in aerial refueling operations, mentioned the publish.
The coaching goals to attain the utmost doable profit for the collaborating components within the planning and execution of recent air operations administration, in addition to maximizing mutual experiences, which is mirrored within the functionality and readiness of the air forces of each international locations to hold out all of the duties assigned to them with effectivity and competence, in keeping with the publish.
The YU-20 employs a probe-and-drogue refueling system, and the Rafale can also be geared up with a probe-and-drogue refueling system, making the 2 platforms extremely suitable by nature, Wang mentioned.
Even when minor technical changes had been required, the issue was possible minimal, because the switch charges and stress of probe-and-drogue refueling are comparable throughout methods, Wang mentioned.
A YU-20 tanker plane takes half in a flying show throughout the 2025 aviation open-day actions of the Chinese language Individuals’s Liberation Military Air Pressure and Changchun Air Present in Changchun, Northeast China’s Jilin Province, on September 20, 2025. Picture: VCG
In Wang’s view, the important thing problem in refueling unfamiliar overseas plane of various sorts lies not within the {hardware}, however within the operational procedures.
Completely different fighter jets have totally different approaches when closing in on the tanker, together with altitude separation, closing pace and docking maneuvers with the drogue, all of which fluctuate resulting from variations in plane configuration and flight efficiency. Earlier than the train, each side possible coordinated particulars reminiscent of rendezvous strategies, docking angles, frequent pace and altitude separation. In any other case, direct refueling below fully unfamiliar circumstances can be fairly difficult. This demonstrates the excessive degree of coordination achieved within the joint coaching, Wang defined.
A promotional video for the Y-20 household launched by the China Navy Bugle on June 28 demonstrated the highly effective aerial refueling capability of the YU-20, which is predicated on the Y-20 platform. The footage reveals the YU-20 refueling not solely fighter jets such because the J-35, J-20, J-16 and J-15, but in addition, as a army affairs knowledgeable mentioned, in uncommon clear element, the H-6N bomber.
The CCTV Information army channel on August 24 launched footage from the primary day of flight coaching held Saturday throughout Eagles of Civilization, exhibiting PLA J-16s participating in air fight drills in opposition to Egyptian MiG-29 and Rafale fighters. A Chinese language knowledgeable mentioned that is the primary joint train that includes each the J-16 and the Rafale, reflecting sturdy mutual belief and a excessive degree of coordination between the 2 air forces.
Wang beforehand mentioned that this joint train marked the primary time China has deployed the J-16 and the primary time Egypt’s Rafale fighters have participated, a improvement value noting. It displays a comparatively excessive degree of mutual belief between the 2 militaries and a considerable customary of joint coaching.
The newest public show of aerial refueling demonstrates the depth of interoperability between the Chinese language and Egyptian air forces, Wang added. The joint train has not solely featured confrontational drills between the J-16 and the Rafale, however has additionally showcased the aptitude to function aspect by aspect.
One essential goal of joint workouts like these is to organize for eventualities by which the 2 militaries could have to cooperate below particular circumstances, cooperation that entails the coordination and mutual help of various tools. If the YU-20 can refuel the Rafale, it signifies that at vital moments, Egyptian fighter models may obtain help from Chinese language tankers, unlocking better potential for bilateral cooperation, the knowledgeable mentioned.
