Military cooperation between China and the UAE is deepening, with the latest news indicating that the two countries will hold their first joint air force training, with a joint military exercise called Falcon Shield-2023 planned for August. The exercise will cover a number of military areas, especially joint training, although aerial confrontational training is only part of it.
The decision that the UAE Air Force will send warplanes to participate in the joint exercise has attracted widespread attention. Despite speculation about whether the UAE will send F-16E/F fighters, the United States is unlikely to agree to this move, just as the United States obstructed Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets in previous Sino-Pakistani joint military exercises.
However, the UAE's Mirage-2000 fighter jet has not been hindered, especially in the context of France's sales of Rafale fighters to the UAE, and France is less likely to object.
China will send a variety of fighters to participate in this military exercise, including J-20 stealth fighter, J-16 heavy fighter, J-11BG fighter and J-10C fighter. This will be a rare opportunity for both sides to have access to each other's workhorse fighters. Although the UAE Air Force was established relatively late, it adopted Western equipment and embraced Western combat concepts, and this military exercise may bring them many new experiences and experiences.
The exercise is expected to be a huge shock and give the UAE the opportunity to experience first-hand a real systemic confrontation. In addition, the strength of China's domestic fighters will also be demonstrated, laying a solid foundation for future military aircraft exports. Such exercises typically include an exchange of experiential flights, which will give UAE pilots a deeper understanding of Chinese fighters such as the J-16 and potentially change their perception of the Mirage-2000.
At this time of global turmoil, with the possibility of large-scale conflict in the Middle East, the UAE urgently needs to strengthen its military capabilities, especially if Israel is equipped with F-35 fighters.
Although the cooperation between the UAE and China in the military field is not outstanding, the news of this joint military exercise unexpectedly reflects the continued strengthening of relations between the two countries. Not long ago, the UAE announced the purchase of 12 L-15 trainers, which is a commercial success for China. Now, the UAE Air Force is coming to China for the first time to conduct military exercises, which is not only a precious exchange opportunity, but also of great geopolitical significance.
Whether the UAE decides to buy China's J-35 stealth fighter is still not finalized, but their intentions are clearly clear. The UAE Air Force has always relied on imported equipment and has no ability to produce it in-house.
They are considering introducing a new generation of fighters, and China's J-35 stealth appears to be the only fifth-generation model they can choose. The joint exercise may be intended to gain a deeper understanding of the J-35's performance and progress, and to provide important information for future decision-making.
In general, this Sino-Arab joint military exercise seems to be only a short-term military exchange activity, but there are major strategic considerations behind it. The UAE not only wants to boost its military capabilities, but also wants closer ties with equipment exporters to secure security commitments. At the same time, China also has the opportunity to promote its J-35 stealth fighter, breaking the US monopoly in the field of fifth-generation aircraft.