The Swift Eagle 2026 joint training for airborne troops from China and Belarus commenced on Wednesday with an opening ceremony at a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force training center, according to the Xinhua News Agency, Global Times reports.
Focusing on "joint counter-terrorism operations in urban terrain," the training will focus on subjects such as surveillance and counter-surveillance, seizure-and-control and protection, and elimination and defense, Xinhua reported. In addition, the two sides will organize seminars, friendly football matches and cultural exchange activities during the joint training, said the report. As the fourth iteration, the joint training will help enhance the combat capabilities of the participating troops and deepen substantive cooperation between the two militaries, said Xinhua.
While details on the equipment deployed by both sides have not yet been disclosed, Wang Yanan, editor-in-chief of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Thursday that Belarus is likely to follow its traditional practices, focusing on low-altitude small-scale airborne operations, possibly using Il-76 large transport aircraft, while China may deploy Y-9 or Y-20 transport aircraft for low-altitude delivery.
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