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Zhao Ziwen

China’s Y-20 transport aircraft flew over the Pyramids on arrival in Egypt on Wednesday ahead of its appearance at an airshow next week.
The flyover also featured six Chinese J-10 performance aircraft from the Bayi Aerobatic Team, trailing smoke featuring the colours of the Chinese and Egyptian flags, according to the People’s Liberation Army.
The Y-20 flew nearly 10,000km (6,200 miles) ahead of its appearance at the first Egypt International Airshow from September 3 to 5 as Beijing seeks to expand its military influence in the Middle East and Africa.
The aircraft last month delivered Chinese troops to Tanzania in a joint counterterrorism exercise.
The Y-20 and J-10 aircraft took off from an unnamed airport in northwestern China on Monday, according to state news agency Xinhua.
China and Egypt confirmed the performance would take place at El Alamein International Airport on the country’s northern coast 160km west of Alexandria.


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.
As well as taking part in the Tanzanian drill, two Y-20s were spotted deployed in Russia’s far east last month.
In 2022, the Y-20 conducted a mission to send the FK-3 medium-range missile system to Serbia, with a stop in Baku, Azerbaijan.
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.
Algeria has bought several Chinese corvette ships plus various missiles and drones. In March, Algeria acquired four cutting-edge WJ-700 Falcon UAVs from China.
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.


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China’s Y-20 transport plane heads to Egypt on Middle East military influence mission

The plane took part in a display over the Pyramids.  Photo: QQ.com

The Y-20 transport aircraft. Photo: 

Aircraft of the Bayi Aerobatic Team present an air show during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February 2024. Photo: Xinhua

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Raytheon SM-6 air defence missile. Photo: Raytheon

J-20 stealth fighter jets fly in formation at the 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, south China’s Guangdong Province, in November 2022. Photo: Xinhua

China to hold air force drills with Thailand as it bolsters Southeast Asia defence ties

Thai and Chinese troops attend the opening ceremony of last year’s Falcon Strike exercise in Thailand in July 2023. Photo: PLA Air Force

Chinese and Thai troops pose with military aircraft during last year’s Falcon Strike exercises in Thailand in July 2023. Photo: Facebook / RTAF

Will China’s ‘smart political game’ in the Middle East and Ukraine pay off?

Illustration: Henry Wong

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba meets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Guangzhou on July 24. Photo: AP

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10,000km flight to the Egypt International Airshow is as much a display of Y-20 and J-10 capability as appearing at the show itself: analyst


The 10,000km flight to the Egypt International Airshow is as much a display of Y-20 and J-10 strength and capability as appearing at the show itself: analyst.
