'Falcon Shield 2025' joint air force training promotes practical cooperation between China and UAE: Defense Spokesperson

BEIJING, Dec. 25 -- "The 'Falcon Shield' joint training is a signature project of cooperation between the air forces of China and the United Arab Emirates. So far, it has been held three times and has played an important role in promoting practical cooperation between the two sides and maintaining regional peace," said Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference on Thursday.

According to the spokesperson, the militaries of China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held the Falcon Shield 2025 joint air force training in the UAE from December 9 to 22, 2025. For the first time, the Chinese PLA Air Force deployed its J-10 fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, and Y-20A tanker aircraft to the UAE for the training.

Participating troops from both sides carried out operations in mixed groups, focusing on such subjects as command simulations and air superiority combat. They also had in-depth exchanges on night combat with night-vision equipment, unmanned combat, and battlefield search and rescue, noted the spokesperson.