Africa’s strongest military welcomes 5 US combat aircraft as Russia, China step up continental arms push

The US Air Force and Texas Air National Guard are participating in the September 8–10 event with U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules, C-130H Hercules, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15E Strike Eagle.

The US is also hosting a pavilion featuring more than 25 American aerospace and defence companies.

According to EIN Newswire, U.S. Embassy in Cairo Chargé d’Affaires Eric Gaudiosi said the U.S. was proud to participate in the El Alamein International Air Show 2026, with a U.S. Pavilion featuring more than 25 American aerospace and defense companies.

He said the strong presence reflects the depth of the U.S.-Egypt partnership and aims to expand opportunities across aviation, aerospace, defense, space and commercial sectors.

The American presence comes as Moscow has turned the Egyptian airshow into a major showcase for its military-industrial complex, with Russia displaying some of its most advanced aircraft, weapons and air-defence systems to potential customers across Africa and the Middle East.

The concentration of military hardware from three of the world’s biggest defence powers is turning Egypt into a major showcase for competing weapons systems and a potential marketplace for countries across Africa and the Middle East seeking to modernise their armed forces and diversify their military suppliers.

China’s participation comes after Beijing and Cairo concluded the “Eagles of Civilization 2026” joint air exercise, which involved Chinese J-16 fighter jets and Egyptian Rafales and focused on air combat, air superiority, combat search and rescue and joint planning.

Business Insider Africa previously reported that China deployed at least six J-16 heavyweight fighters to Egypt in what marked the aircraft’s first deployment outside Asia. The exercise also involved China’s Y-20 transport aircraft and other support platforms.

The latest Chinese display therefore extends an already expanding military relationship with Egypt from joint exercises into a major international defence exhibition.

Russia, meanwhile, is using the airshow to push its military exports to African and Middle Eastern customers.

Business Insider Africa reported last week that Rostec plans to display a previously undisclosed weapon integrated with Russia’s Su-57E fifth-generation export fighter. Moscow has not identified the weapon or disclosed which countries have purchased the aircraft.

In another report, Business Insider Africa revealed that Russia is offering Egypt its Bison anti-drone system, an export version of a system that Moscow says has been used against drones in Ukraine.

Russia’s wider exhibition includes the Su-57E, Yak-130M, Ka-52E, air-defence systems, loitering munitions and reconnaissance drones, with Rosoboronexport explicitly targeting customers across Africa and the Middle East.

The result is an unusually concentrated display of competing military technology.

For African governments looking to modernise their armed forces, diversify suppliers and acquire capabilities ranging from fighter aircraft and air defence to drones and counter-drone systems, Egypt’s airshow provides a rare opportunity to compare equipment from three of the world’s major military powers in one location.

The competition also reflects a wider shift in Africa’s defence market, where the US, Russia and China are increasingly seeking to expand military partnerships, arms sales and strategic influence across the continent.