이집트에서 J-16과 라팔이 함께 훈련

[위종민]

이집트에서 실시된 “Eagles of Civilization 2026” 연습에서 8월 23일 중국군의 F-16이 라팔과 함께 훈련을 실시했네요. 중국 공군은 전투기와 공중급유기, 지원전력, 헬기를 파견했습니다. 작년엔 J-10을 보냈었네요. 

중국 J-16 전투기, 이집트 훈련에서 라팔과 맞대결

Jean Carmela Lim

편집: Emma Yates-Badley

16시간 전

Fasttailwind / Kostas Alkousis / Shutterstock.com

중국 인민해방군(PLA) 공군에 따르면 중국 J-16 전투기들이 2026년 8월 23일 처음으로 프랑스제 라팔 전투기들과 전투 훈련을 실시했다. 이는 중국 조종사들이 서방에서 설계된 플랫폼을 상대로 자국 항공기의 성능을 시험할 수 있는 드문 기회였다.

인민해방군 공군이 공개한 영상에는 중국 조종사들이 이집트 공군의 라팔 전투기들과 함께 J-16 전투기를 운용하는 모습이 담겼다.

J-16의 라팔 상대 시험, 남아시아에서 J-10의 실전 기록 뒤이어

이번 훈련은 중국 전투기가 프랑스의 가장 잘 알려진 군용기 가운데 하나이자 제조사 다쏘 항공의 대표 기종인 라팔을 상대로 전투 훈련에 참가한 첫 사례였다.

중국항공공업집단(AVIC)이 개발한 J-16은 중량급 다목적 전투기로, 중국에서 가장 성능이 뛰어난 전투기 가운데 하나로 널리 평가되며 J-10 계열과 같은 중형급 전투기보다 더 많은 무장을 탑재할 수 있다.

인민해방군 공군에 따르면 2026년 8월 23일은 이번 합동훈련의 첫 비행훈련일이었으며, 이날 훈련은 일대일 공중전에 초점을 맞췄다. 양국 공군 항공기들이 잇따라 이륙한 뒤 조종사들은 중국 측이 실전과 유사한 조건이라고 설명한 환경에서 고강도 기동을 실시했다.

훈련에 앞서 양국 조종사들은 각자 운용하는 항공기의 특성에 관한 브리핑을 실시하고 비행 안전, 공역 통제, 이착륙 절차, 비상 대응에 관한 공통 절차를 논의했다.

이번 맞대결은 지난해 인도-파키스탄 분쟁 당시 중국 J-10이 라팔을 상대로 보여준 전투 성과로 중국 전투기의 프랑스제 항공기 상대 성능에 대한 관심이 높아진 데 이어 이뤄졌다. 이에 따라 이번 훈련은 더 발전된 J-16이 같은 프랑스제 플랫폼을 상대로 치르는 시험으로 큰 관심을 받고 있다.

이집트-중국 훈련, 공중 근접전 넘어 확대

‘문명의 독수리 2026’으로 알려진 이번 훈련은 중국과 이집트 간 합동 공중훈련 프로그램으로, 2026년 8월 22일부터 이집트 내 여러 공군기지에서 실시되고 있다.

이집트 국가정보서비스에 따르면 이번 훈련은 수일간 진행될 예정이며, 양국 인원을 대상으로 이론 및 실기 훈련을 모두 포함한다. 목표는 공통 작전개념을 확립하고 양국 공군 간 협조를 개선하는 것이다.

참가 전력들은 합동 항공 출격과 합동 공중전 작전의 계획 및 관리 훈련을 실시하고 있으며, 동시에 이번 훈련을 경험 교류와 작전 능력 개발의 기회로 활용하고 있다. 인민해방군 공군은 전투기, 공중급유기, 전투지원기, 헬리콥터를 포함한 혼성 전력을 파견했다.

올해 훈련은 중국과 이집트 간 두 번째 ‘문명의 독수리’ 훈련으로, 2025년에 실시된 첫 훈련에서는 중국이 J-16이 아니라 J-10 전투기를 파견했다.

이번 훈련은 이집트군이 우방국 군대들과 진행하는 더 광범위한 합동훈련 프로그램의 일부이며, 이집트와 중국 간 군사협력을 강화하기 위한 것이다.

비행 중인 프랑스 공군 EC 330 로렌 소속 라팔 C 104 HG

관련 기사

China's J-16 faces off with Rafale in Egypt drills

China's J-16 faces off with Rafale in Egypt drills

China’s J-16 jets face off with Rafales in first-ever Egypt exercise

ByJean Carmela Lim

Edited ByEmma Yates-Badley

16 hours ago

Defense

Fasttailwind / Kostas Alkousis / Shutterstock.com

Chinese J-16 fighter jets engaged in combat exercises with French-made Rafale fighters for the first time on August 23, 2026, according to China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, marking a rare opportunity for Chinese pilots to test their aircraft against a Western-designed platform.

Video footage released by the PLA Air Force showed Chinese pilots operating J-16 jets alongside Rafale fighters from the Egyptian Air Force. 

J-16’s Rafale test follows J-10’s combat record in South Asia

The exercise marked the first time any Chinese fighter jet has taken part in combat drills against the Rafale, one of the most well-known French military aircraft and a flagship offering from manufacturer Dassault Aviation. 

The J-16, developed by Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), is a heavyweight, multirole fighter widely regarded as one of China’s most capable combat aircraft, able to carry more firepower than medium-weight jets like the J-10 series.

According to the PLA Air Force, August 23, 2026 marked the first day of flight training under the joint exercise, with the day’s drills focused on one-on-one aerial combat. As aircraft from both air forces took off in succession, pilots engaged in intensive maneuvers under what the Chinese side described as combat-realistic conditions. 

Before training began, pilots from both countries held briefings on their respective aircraft’s characteristics and discussed shared protocols covering flight safety, airspace control, takeoff and landing procedures, and emergency response.

The matchup follows heightened attention on Chinese fighter jets’ performance against French-made aircraft after China’s J-10 drew notice for its combat performance against Rafales during the India-Pakistan conflict last year, making this exercise a closely watched test of the more advanced J-16 against the same French platform.

Egypt-China drills expand beyond aerial dogfighting

The exercise, known as “Eagles of Civilization 2026,” is a joint air training program between China and Egypt, held across several air bases in Egypt starting August 22, 2026. 

According to Egypt’s State Information Service, the exercise is expected to run for several days and includes both theoretical and practical training for personnel from both countries, with the goal of establishing shared operational concepts and improving coordination between the two air forces.

Participating forces are conducting joint air sorties and training on the planning and management of joint air combat operations, while also using the exercise as an opportunity to exchange experience and develop operational skills. The PLA Air Force has contributed a combined force that includes fighter jets, tanker aircraft, combat support aircraft, and helicopters.

This year’s edition marks the second Eagles of Civilization exercise between China and Egypt, following an earlier round in 2025, during which China sent its J-10 fighters rather than the J-16. 

The exercise forms part of the Egyptian Armed Forces’ broader joint training program with partner militaries and is intended to strengthen military cooperation between Egypt and China.

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