The idea of transporting disassembled J-10s in Y-20s and then reassembling them in a flight worthy condition for an actual military exercise where they have to conduct sorties, didn't really pass the smell test to begin with.
The fact there were no J-10s on ADS-B could be just that they turned their transponders off; a much more simple and practical answer.
Considering they seemed to fly from China, made a stop at Dubai, then reached Cairo, that sort of ferry flight is doable for a half dozen or so J-10s supported by at least one YY-20A.
I'm more impressed at the lack of photos/imagery of the J-10s touching down at Dubai, because I assume the J-10s would've landed for the pilots to get a break (or even to swap pilots with with those that may have accompanied them onboard Y-20s).
In any case, J-10Cs accompanied by a KJ-500 and some Y-20s (especially if they're carrying an air defense element) would make for a rather comprehensive element for an aerial combat exercise. J-10Cs are not merely just a 4th gen single engine fighter with an AESA and a spruced up cockpit, and when operating with KJ-500 support they do form a system-of-systems in their own right.
The fact there were no J-10s on ADS-B could be just that they turned their transponders off; a much more simple and practical answer.
Considering they seemed to fly from China, made a stop at Dubai, then reached Cairo, that sort of ferry flight is doable for a half dozen or so J-10s supported by at least one YY-20A.
I'm more impressed at the lack of photos/imagery of the J-10s touching down at Dubai, because I assume the J-10s would've landed for the pilots to get a break (or even to swap pilots with with those that may have accompanied them onboard Y-20s).
In any case, J-10Cs accompanied by a KJ-500 and some Y-20s (especially if they're carrying an air defense element) would make for a rather comprehensive element for an aerial combat exercise. J-10Cs are not merely just a 4th gen single engine fighter with an AESA and a spruced up cockpit, and when operating with KJ-500 support they do form a system-of-systems in their own right.
