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.