China, Egypt to hold 1st joint air force drill

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - China and Egypt will hold the 1st joint air force drill nicknamed "Civilized Eagle-2025," the Chinese Ministry of National Defense stated on Wednesday.

“According to the consensus reached by the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Air Force will send a detachment to Egypt from mid-April to early May to hold the China-Egypt ‘Civilized Eagle-2025’ joint air force training,” the statement wrote according to the government website.

The statement did not specify the exact dates of the drills, but noted that it was the first joint air exercise to be conducted by the Chinese and Egyptian militaries.

It emphasized that the exercises hold great importance for fostering “practical cooperation” and strengthening friendship and “mutual trust” between the two armed forces.

In February, China denied that the Egyptian Air Force received Chinese-made J-10 4.5-generation multi-role fighter jets from China, according to Chinese state media.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said the claim was “inconsistent with the facts,” denying the various media reports that Egypt had received the jets from China.