The Chinese People’s Liberation Air Force (PLAAF) and the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) are conducting the second edition of their joint air drills, dubbed ‘Exercise Falcon Shield-2024’ in China’s Xinjiang province.

According to reports that cited officially released information, China has deployed its two workhorses, the J-10C and the J-16, which are practicing aerial maneuvers with UAE’s French-origin Mirage-2000 fighter jets.

Earlier this week, the UAE Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced the drills on social media site X (previously Twitter). The MoD stated, “Within the framework of joint cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Defense announced the launch of the joint military exercise “Falcon Shield 2024” between the air forces of the two countries.”

The UAE also published two photos showing the three aircraft at an unidentified air base. Chinese military aviation specialist Andreas Rupprecht also posted the images on his X account, speculating that the aircraft could be from the 177th Air Brigade. These claims could not be independently corroborated.

Earlier, reports indicated the drills involving the two countries’ Air Forces kicked off in late June and would continue until late July, spanning almost a month of aerial maneuvers. 

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However, the PLAAF or the UAEAF have yet to publicly release specific details of the drills and the names of all combat aircraft deployed. The UAE’s Air Force mainly uses Western fighter jets, such as F-16s and Mirage-2000, and has an existing order for French-made Rafale fighter jets.

The deployment of Mirage-2000 would allow China to gather valuable experience, especially since Taiwan and even India operate the French warplane. India The use of Western-origin aircraft and combat tactics based on a Western model could be advantageous additions to China’s domestic training program for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

China has deployed two fourth-generation aircraft that currently form the backbone of the PLAAF. The J-10, dubbed the “Firebird” by NATO, is a medium-weight, single-engine jet fighter that can operate in all weather conditions. 

The latest aircraft iteration, the J-10C, features an infrared tracking target system, active electronically scanned array radars, and an upgraded electronic warfare system. It is also equipped with PL-15 air-to-air missiles and powered by a more potent WS-10B engine.

The J-16, on the other hand, is a 4+ generation tandem-seat, twin-engine, multirole strike fighter. It is a cutting-edge aircraft powered by a WS-10A engine and equipped with an AESA radar. To decrease their radar signature and improve their capacity to suppress enemy air defenses (SEAD) in conjunction with electronic support measure pods, J-16 units have been equipped with paint that absorbs radar waves.

The J-16 is also notorious for frequently violating Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and intercepting foreign aircraft in the Indo-Pacific.

China-UAE Deepening Defense Ties

The Falcon Shield-2024 is the second iteration of China-UAE drills. Last year, the Falcon Shield-2023 joint training exercise was held in Xinjiang in August. This year, the drill comes at a time when both countries are strengthening defense ties on a large scale despite the Emirati kingdom being a traditional US ally.

Last month, for instance, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced that both sides—China and the UAE—had emphasized their willingness to share experiences on defense and security. The two agreed to strengthen visits, joint training, and exhibitions.

However, the presence of J-10 and J-16 is significant given that there has been speculation that China has been making concerted attempts at exporting the J-10C Vigorous Dragon to countries in the Middle Eastern region. In fact, the aircraft made its first appearance in the Middle East in the 2023 edition of the Dubai Air Show. However, there are currently no talks about a potential acquisition.

At the same air show, China also displayed the FC-31 stealth fighter jet, the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, the Z-20 tactical utility helicopter, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the AR-36 vertical takeoff and landing drone and the Wing Loong-X and Wing Loong-2 fixed-wing drones.

Previous reports hinted that the UAE may be contemplating the purchase of China’s stealth jet after being turned down for the US fifth-generation fighter, the F-35 Lightning II. Analysts speculate that the possibility of a Chinese stealth fighter, the FC-31, which is still in development, could be explored.

Last year, the UAE purchased the Chinese L-15 trainer aircraft in 2023. The Emirati kingdom also extensively deploys Chinese combat drones, like the Wing Loong 1 and Wing Loong 2. Additionally, there were reports that the UAE purchased Blue Arrow 7 anti-tank missiles from China in 2017 for use on its Wing Loong 2 fleet.

China has made no bones about wanting to expand its presence in the region, which has traditionally been a US bastion. This puts the deepening defense ties with the Emirati kingdom into perspective.

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