Rafales face China's J-16 jets in rare drill: Why India is watching closely

Chinese J-16 fighters engaged in direct aerial combat drills against Rafale jets for the first time during a joint military exercise between China and Egypt. For India, the exercise carries significance well beyond a routine military drill. Here's why.Chinese J-16 jets engaged in combat exercises with French-made Rafale fighters for the first time, in a rare military drill that allowed Chinese pilots to test their capabilities against a Western platform. India will be watching the exercise closely, particularly after its Rafales and Chinese J-10 jets, operated by Pakistan, were involved during the hostilities last year.The China-Egypt 'Eagles of Civilisation' exercise will offer a valuable glimpse into how the two aircraft perform in a simulated combat environment, as well as the capabilities of the J-16. The J-16, nicknamed the 'Hidden Dragon', is a more advanced version of the J-10, and its performance will be of interest to India amid the growing Chinese air power in the region.Pakistan currently operates the Chinese-made J-10C, the export variant of the J-10, along with the jointly developed JF-17 Thunder. It has also shown interest in acquiring the J-16 fighter jet, which makes it all the more important for India to keep an eye on the exercise. India, on the other hand, is looking to acquire 114 more Rafales from France.CHINA'S J-16 CROSSES SWORDS WITH RAFALEThe second edition of the drills began on August 22. On Monday, Chinese J-16s engaged in one-on-one air combat drills with Rafales. The pilots engaged in intense confrontations under realistic combat scenarios. Egypt's MiG-29s were also in action. Footage released by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) showed a Rafale performing manoeuvres close to a J-16. It was the first time a Chinese fighter jet engaged in direct aerial combat drills against a Rafale.Both the J-16 and the Rafale are 4.5-generation fighter jets featuring modern avionics, advanced radar, and electronic warfare systems. The J-16 is a heavyweight, multirole fighter developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Widely regarded as one of China's best combat aircraft, it can carry a variety of munitions and deliver more firepower than the J-10 series. Moreover, the J-16 is a twin-engine, two-seater jet designed for longer-range missions.Wang Yanan, an aviation expert, told Global Times that while the J-16 and the Rafale belong to the same generation, the French aircraft's overall combat capabilities "may not be as comprehensive" as those of the Chinese jet.However, it must be noted here that the Rafales used by the IAF have India-specific upgrades that differ from those operated by Egypt.Interestingly, China had initiated a disinformation campaign against the Rafale aircraft after last year's India-Pakistan conflict to hinder the sales of the French fighter jet, the US Congress was informed.Egypt's air force also operates American F-16 jets, as well as CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters. However, they are not part of the exercise as the US maintains strict end-use and export-control curbs on its combat aircraft and sensitive technologies. France, by contrast, is less restrictive in its arms exports.According to experts, the Eagles of Civilisation exercise is being seen as part of a larger trend of China increasingly joining forces with countries that use Western military equipment.Recently, China participated in a similar exercise with Thailand, which involved the Thai Air Force, which operates F-16s and Saab Gripen fighters.WHY WILL INDIA BE WATCHING DRILL CLOSELY?For India, the China-Egypt exercise carries significance well beyond a routine military drill. During last year's Operation Sindoor, Indian Rafales and Pakistan's J-10 fighters were involved in hostilities, making the performance of the Chinese J-16 a matter of deep interest for the Indian Air Force (IAF).The exercise also comes against the backdrop of China's expanding military cooperation with Pakistan. Pakistan is keen on acquiring the Chinese J-16 jet to strengthen its combat and electronic warfare capabilities after last year's debacle.Earlier this year, China publicly acknowledged for the first time that it provided on-ground technical assistance to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. It also provided real-time intelligence inputs to Islamabad during the conflict.However, it could not prevent Pakistan from suffering extensive damage to its aircraft and infrastructure.At least a dozen Pakistani military aircraft, including US-origin F-16s and Chinese JF-17s, were destroyed or damaged during Operation Sindoor. Moreover, hangars, radars, command and control centres and runways in 11 Pakistani air bases were also targeted, IAF chief AP Singh told the media last year.Operation Sindoor firmly showcased the pivotal role of air power in conflicts. For India, the J-16's performance against the Rafale could offer important lessons about the strengths and limitations of a Chinese jet that Pakistan may eventually add to its fleet. Thus, amid China's deepening military cooperation with Pakistan, the lessons emerging from the skies over Egypt will be closely watched in New Delhi.- EndsPublished By: Abhishek DePublished On: Aug 25, 2026 12:07 IST