After refueling Egyptian MiG-29s during EoC 2025, the PLA Air Force’s YY-20A has now been photographed refueling an EAF Rafale during this year’s Eagles of Civilization exercise.
A Chinese YY-20A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) refueled an Egyptian Air Force (EAF) Rafale fighter during the ongoing Eagles of Civilization 2026 air drills, the latest official images released by both militaries show. During last year’s inaugural installment of the exercises, a YY-20A refueled EAF MiG-29M/M2 fighters. EoC 2026 set another milestone with PLA Air Force J-16s training with EAF Rafales.
While this appears to be the first publicly documented instance of a Chinese YY-20A refueling a Western-built fighter, Rafales have been integrated with a Russian platform before. The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Ilyushin Il-78 tankers regularly refuel its French Rafales.
Thus, Eastern and Western platforms have been integrated through the Il-78/Rafale and YY-20A/MiG-29 pairings, thanks to their compatible probe-and-drogue systems. Given the incremental enhancements in interoperability seen during the EoC exercises, it was only a matter of time before the YY-20A connected with the Rafales.
Rafale meets YY-20:
China, Egypt continue joint air force exercise ‘Eagles of Civilization 2026’
New photo from @EgyArmySpox shows a Chinese YY-20 tanker refueling an Egyptian Rafale fighter during aerial refuelling training of the “Eagles of Civilization-2026” joint exercise.… pic.twitter.com/Y5RPqLiuh2
— China Military Bugle (@ChinaMilBugle) August 31, 2026
YY-20A refuels Rafale
The image was first released by the Egyptian military spokesperson and was later shared by the official ‘China Military Bugle’ handle. The in-flight picture shows a twin-seat Rafale B on the starboard side of the YY-20A, with the fighter’s fixed In-Flight Refueling (IFR) probe connected to the hose-and-drogue unit deployed from the tanker’s refueling pod. Two other Rafales are also seen to the right of the EAF Rafale.
While the number of refueling operations that may have taken place is not known, it is unclear how many of the participating EAF Rafales actually took fuel from the YY-20A. The YY-20A can also be identified from the faint low-visibility markings under the wing.
Other images from the Egyptian military showed EAF and PLAAF crews during a briefing, pictures from the cockpit of a MiG-29M/M2 showing another MiG-29 to its right during what appears to be a takeoff run, and a shot of four PLAAF J-16s flying overhead.
#المتحدث_العسكرى : استمرار فعاليات التدريب الجوي المصري الصيني المشترك ( نسور الحضارة – 2026 ) … pic.twitter.com/CKC5gjlbdA
— المتحدث العسكرى (@EgyArmySpox) August 31, 2026
China Military Bugle then used the official Egyptian picture of the YY-20A refueling the Rafale and posted EoC 2025’s image of the tanker connecting with the EAF’s MiG-29M2, highlighting the progression in interoperability between the two air forces.
Egyptian and Chinese statements
The release from the Egyptian military spokesperson mentioned the various simulated kinetic mission sets, aimed at fostering joint operations and improving combat skills in line with current warfare trends.
“The exercise is being conducted at several airbases across the Arab Republic of Egypt. Joint sorties were carried out to train on managing air combat operations – specifically attacking hostile targets and protecting vital assets – in accordance with the latest aerial tactics. These activities facilitate the exchange of expertise and enhance the pilots’ skills and capabilities to operate jointly with complete harmony and coordination, in addition to conducting aerial refueling training. The exercise aims to maximize the benefits for participating personnel regarding the planning and execution of modern air operations and to enhance the exchange of expertise. This, in turn, boosts the capability and readiness of both nations’ air forces to execute all assigned missions with efficiency and competence.”
Onwards and Upwards.
An #IAF contingent arrived today at the Eielson AF Base of @usairforce, at Alaska, USA, to participate in the upcoming edition of the multi-national exercise Red Flag 24.
Ably supported by its IL-78 air to air refuellers and the C-17 transport ac, the IAF… pic.twitter.com/8mi2VlNbVT
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 30, 2024
The Chinese military highlighted the step-up from EoC 2025:
“New photo from (the Egyptian Army spokesperson) shows a Chinese YY-20 tanker refueling an Egyptian Rafale fighter during aerial refuelling training of the ‘Eagles of Civilization-2026’ joint exercise. This follows last year’s joint exercise during which the YY-20 tanker refueled Egyptian MiG-29s, demonstrating the deepening interoperability between the two sides.”
The Chinese PLA Air Force has sent an elite fleet of aircraft, including the J-16 fighter jet, to Egypt for the “Eagles of Civilization 2026” joint training exercise.
The multiple types of aircraft and personnel participating in the exercise arrived at an Egyptian air base on… pic.twitter.com/ytUbRpBiXL
— China Military Bugle (@ChinaMilBugle) August 24, 2026
Other platforms
Besides the J-16, the other PLAAF platform that debuted in EoC 2026 is the Y-9LG Stand-Off Jammer (SOJ). The four to five Y-20 strategic airlifters, a YY-20A MRTT that made the more than 6,000-km journey to Egypt, the Z-20KS battlefield tactical helicopter, and the KJ-500 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft participated in 2025 too. The inaugural EoC 2025 had also seen the PLAAF send its J-10Cs to train with EAF MiG-29s.
The current set of images and statements from EoC 2026 does not include the Y-9LG SOJ, the KJ-500 AEW&C or the Z-20 helicopter. Chinese official media had, however, mentioned these platforms on Aug. 24, a day after EoC 2026 kicked off on Aug. 23. During EoC 2026, Chinese reporting has also associated the Z-20 with Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) training.
