After years of distrust, Turkey and Africa's most powerful military have begun collaborating in the skies

Egypt and Turkey have begun a new round of joint air force training, indicating a growing military alliance as ties between the two regional heavyweights improve.

Jun 12, 2026 - 18:21

After years of distrust, Turkey and Africa's most powerful military have begun collaborating in the skies

After years of distrust, Turkey and Africa's most powerful military have begun collaborating in the skies [Source: X:@EGYOSINT]

Egypt and Turkey have begun a new round of joint air force training, indicating a growing military alliance as ties between the two regional heavyweights improve.

Egypt and Turkey have started joint air force training exercises at multiple locations in Egypt, highlighting a strengthening military alliance.
The drills involve modern fighter jets and troops from both countries, focusing on improving defense cooperation and combat readiness.
Initial phases included technical meetings and knowledge exchanges, followed by cooperative live-flight operations and simulated combat missions.
The exercises aim to enhance coordination and interoperability between the two air forces amid evolving regional security challenges.

The drills, which are now taking place at numerous Egyptian air sites, feature modern multi-role fighter aircraft and troops from both countries.

According to the Egyptian Armed Forces, the training aims to improve defense cooperation, operational coordination, and combat preparedness of participating units.

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The military drills are scheduled to last several days and include both classroom exchanges and live-flight operations.

During the initial stage, Egyptian and Turkish air crews had talks and technical meetings to share knowledge, synchronize operational procedures, and exchange insights from past training experiences.

The drill then progressed to real operations, with pilots from both countries conducting cooperative flights and simulated combat missions.

Egypt and Turkey have begun a new round of joint air force training[Source: X:@EGYOSINT]

These scenarios are intended to evaluate coordination, promote interoperability, and train aircrews for a variety of current security issues, as reported by the Middle East Monitor.

Egypt's military claimed the training will increase both forces' effectiveness and capacity to undertake coordinated operations in a variety of combat scenarios.

The drills underscore the improving momentum in Egypt-Turkey relations after years of political tension.

Since resuming diplomatic relations, Cairo and Ankara have progressively increased collaboration in a variety of areas, including trade, politics, security, and defense.

Earlier in May, the joint military exercise, dubbed Thunder-II, between Egypt and Pakistan was successfully conducted at the hill station and cantonment located in Pakistan's Nowshera District, Cherat.

Combat detachments from the Egyptian Special Forces and the Pakistan Army's Special Services Group (SSG) participated in the drill, demonstrating significant professional competence and tactical proficiency.