El Alamein 2026: China brings four international airshow debuts to Egypt

A PLAAF J-16 twin-seat multirole/strike fighter displayed at the El Alamein International Airshow 2026. (Janes/Sam Wise)

The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has attended the El Alamein Airshow, held from 8-10 September 2026 in Egypt with four operational aircraft, including combat types. Following on from the PLAAF's participation in the Eagles of Civilization 2026 exercise held jointly with Egypt earlier in September the PLAAF sent a Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-16 fighter, Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG) Z-20 helicopter, Xi'an Aircraft Company (XAC) YY-20 Kunpeng aerial tanker, and SAC KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.

This marks the largest participation by number of types by the Chinese military proper at an airshow outside of China, as well as the overseas airshow debut of all four types. China has previously sent its aerobatic display team, August 1st, equipped with specially marked and equipped CAC J-10 Meng Longs, and the base Y-20 transport variant to events. However, the presence at El Alamein showcases a greater variety of PLAAF types and missions than seen overseas before.

Although the aircraft were already in Egypt for the exercise, the announcement that the PLAAF would attend El Alamein airshow was only made on 6 September. Based on the Y-9 airframe the KJ-500, with its fixed dorsal radar disc containing a three-array active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar arrangement, was publicly displayed at the PLAAF Aviation Open Day and Changchun Air Show in September 2025.

However, neither the Y-9LG nor the baseline Y-20s, which also participated in the exercise, appeared to be present at the show.

Notably, the Z-20 had a previously-unseen silver-finish paint scheme, which may indicate a specialised variant.