P L A N a v al A vi ati o n Tr ai ni n g a n d O p e r ati o n s Mi s si o n s, O r g a ni z ati o n al St r u ct u r e, a n d Tr ai ni n g (

Transcription

1 P L A N a v al A vi ati o n T r ai ni n g a n d O p e r ati o n s Mi s si o n s, Or g a ni z ati o n al Str u ct ur e, a n d Tr ai ni n g ( ) K e n n et h All e n a n d L yl e J. M orris

2 P L A N a v al A vi ati o n Tr ai ni n g a n d O p e r ati o n s Mi s si o n s, O r g a ni z ati o n al St r u ct u r e, a n d Tr ai ni n g ( ) Ke n net h Alle n a n d Lyle J. M orris iii

3 Pri nt e d i n t h e U nit e d St at es of A m eric a b y t h e C hi n a Aer os p ac e St u di es I nstit ut e I S B N- 1 3: I S B N- 1 0: To re q u est a d diti o n al c o pi es, pl e as e direct i n q uiri es t o Direct or, C hi n a Aer os p ac e St u di es I nstit ut e, Air U ni v ersit y, 5 5 L e m a y Pl a z a, M o nt g o m er y, A L R e pr o d ucti o n a n d pri nti n g is s u bj ect t o t h e C o p yri g ht Act of a n d a p plic a bl e treati es of t h e U nit e d St at es. T his d oc u m e nt m a y b e fr e el y r e pr o d uc e d f or ac a d e mic or ot h er n o nc o m m erci al us e; h o w e v er, it is r e q u est e d t h at re pr o d ucti o ns cre dit t h e a ut h or a n d C hi n a Aer os p ac e St u di es I nstit ut e ( C A SI). To o bt ai n p er missi o n t o re pr o d uc e t his p u blic ati o n f or c o m m erci al p ur p os es, c o nt act t h e C hi n a Aer os p ac e St u di es I nstit ut e. E- m ail: Direct C A SI- R es e arc h. O R G We b: htt p:// w w w. air u ni v ersit y. af. mil/ C A SI htt ps://t witt er.c o m/ C A SI _ R es e arc C A SI _ R es e arc h htt ps:// w w w.f ac e b o o k.c o m/ C A SI. R es e arc h. Or g htt ps:// w w w.li n k e di n.c o m/c o m p a n y/ i v

4 Di s cl ai m er T h e vi e ws e x pr ess e d i n t his ac a d e mic res e arc h p a p er are t h os e of t h e a ut h ors a n d d o n ot n ec ess aril y r efl ect t h e offici al p olic y or p ositi o n of t h e U. S. G o v er n m e nt or t h e D e p art m e nt of D ef e ns e. I n acc or d a nc e wit h Air F orc e I nstr ucti o n , I ntellect u al Pro pert y, P ate nts, P ate nt Rel ate d M atters, Tr a de m ar ks a n d Co pyri g hts ; t his w or k is t h e pr o p ert y of t h e U S G o v er n m e nt. Li mit e d Pri nt a n d El e ctr o ni c Di stri b uti o n Ri g ht s T his d oc u m e nt a n d tr a d e m ar k(s) c o nt ai n e d h erei n are pr ot ect e d b y l a w. T his p u blic ati o n is pr o vi d e d f or n o nc o m m erci al us e o nl y. U n a ut h ori z e d p osti n g of t his p u blic ati o n o nli n e is pr o hi bit e d. Per missi o n is gi v e n t o d u plic at e t his d oc u m e nt f or p ers o n al, ac a d e mic, or g o v er n m e nt al us e o nl y, as l o n g as it is u n alt ere d a n d c o m pl et e. Per missi o n is r e q uir e d fr o m t h e C hi n a A er os p ac e St u di es I nstit ut e t o re pr o d uc e, or re us e i n a n ot h er f or m, a n y of its res e arc h d oc u m e nts f or c o m m erci al us e. F or i nf or m ati o n o n r e pri nt a n d li n ki n g p er missi o ns, pl e as e c o nt act t h e C hi n a A er os p ac e St u di es I nstit ut e. v

5 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S C hi n a A e r o s p a c e St u di e s I n stit ut e C A SI s missi o n is t o a d v a nc e u n d erst a n di n g of t h e c a p a biliti es, d e v el o p m e nt, o p er ati n g c o nc e pts, str at e g y, d octri n e, p ers o n n el, or g a ni z ati o n, a n d li mit ati o ns of C hi n a s a er os p ac e f orc es, w hic h i ncl u d e: t h e P L A Air F orc e ( P L A A F); P L A N a v al Avi ati o n ( P L A N Avi ati o n); P L A R oc k et F orc e ( P L A R F); t h e Str at e gic S u p p ort F orc e ( P L A S S F), pri m aril y s p ac e a n d c y b er; t h e ci vili a n a n d c o m m erci al i nfr astr uct ure t h at s u p p orts t h e a b o v e. C A SI s u p p orts t h e S ecr et ar y, C hi ef of St aff, a n d ot h er s e ni or l e a d ers of t h e U. S. Air F orc e. C A SI pr o vi d es e x p ert res e arc h a n d a n al ysis s u p p orti n g d ecisi o n a n d p olic y m a k ers i n t h e D e p art m e nt of D ef e ns e a n d acr oss t h e U. S. g o v er n m e nt. C A SI c a n s u p p ort t h e f ull r a n g e of u nits a n d or g a ni z ati o ns acr oss t h e U S A F a n d t h e D o D. C A SI acc o m plis h es its missi o n t hr o u g h c o n d ucti n g t h e f oll o wi n g acti viti es: C A SI pri m aril y c o n d ucts o p e n-s o urc e n ati v e-l a n g u a g e r es e arc h s u p p orti n g its fi v e m ai n t o pic areas. C A SI c o n d ucts c o nf ere nc es, w or ks h o ps, r o u n dt a bl es, s u bj ect m att er e x p ert p a n els, a n d s e ni or l e a d er disc ussi o ns t o f urt h er its missi o n. C A SI p ers o n n el att e n d s uc h e v e nts, g o v er n m e nt, ac a d e mic, a n d p u blic, i n s u p p ort of its res e arc h a n d o utreac h eff orts. C A SI p u blis h es res e arc h fi n di n gs a n d p a p ers, j o ur n al articl es, m o n o gr a p hs, a n d e dit e d v ol u m es f or b ot h p u blic a n d g o v er n m e nt- o nl y distri b uti o n as a p pr o pri at e. C A SI est a blis h es a n d m ai nt ai ns i nstit uti o n al rel ati o ns hi ps wit h or g a ni z ati o ns a n d i nstit uti o ns i n t h e P L A, t h e P R C writ l ar g e, a n d wit h p art n ers a n d alli es i n v ol v e d i n t h e re gi o n. C A SI m ai nt ai ns t h e a bilit y t o s u p p ort s e ni or l e a d ers a n d p olic y d ecisi o n m a k ers acr oss t h e f ull s p ectr u m of t o pics a n d pr oj ects at all l e v els, rel at e d t o C hi n es e a er os p ac e. vi

6 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) C A SI s u p p orts t h e U. S. D ef e ns e D e p art m e nt a n d t h e C hi n a r es e arc h c o m m u nit y writ e-l ar g e b y pr o vi di n g hi g h q u alit y, u ncl assifi e d r es e arc h o n C hi n es e a er os p ac e d e v el o p m e nts i n t h e c o nt e xt of U. S. str at e gic i m p er ati v es i n t h e Asi a- Pacific r e gi o n. Pri m aril y f oc us e d o n C hi n a s Milit ar y Air, S p ac e, a n d Missil e F orc es, C A SI c a pit ali z es o n p u blicl y a v ail a bl e n ati v e l a n g u a g e res o urc es t o g ai n i nsi g hts as t o h o w t h e C hi n es e s p e a k t o a n d a m o n g o n e a n ot h er o n t h es e t o pics. vii

7 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S P r ef a c e T his r e p ort w as first pres e nt e d at t h e C hi n a Aer os p ac e St u di es I nstit ut e ( C A SI) c o nf er e nc e s p o ns ore d b y H e a d q u art ers, U. S. Air F orc e, at t h e R A N D C or p or ati o n s offic e i n Arli n gt o n, Vir gi ni a. M a n y e x p erts o n C hi n es e air p o w er, milit ar y o p er ati o ns, a n d C hi n es e milit ar y m o d er ni z ati o n p artici p at e d i n t h e c o nf ere nc e, pr o vi d e d res e arc h, a n d g a v e v al u a bl e f e e d b ac k. T his re p ort dr a ws o n t h at i nf or m ati o n a n d ass ess si g nific a nt d e v el o p m e nts i n, a n d i m plic ati o ns of, C hi n a s e m er gi n g a er os p ac e fi el d a n d p o w er pr oj ecti o n c a p a biliti es. As C hi n a s ec o n o mic, di pl o m atic, a n d s ec urit y i nt er ests c o nti n u e t o e x p a n d, t h e Pe o pl e s Li b er ati o n Ar m y ( P L A), a n d i n p artic ul ar its a er os p ac e f orc es t o i ncl u d e t h e P L A Air F orc e ( P L A A F), P L A n a v al a vi ati o n, a n d P L A s p ac e c a p a biliti es will c o nti n u e t o p us h t o d e v el o p or ac q uire m ore r o b ust p o w er pr oj ecti o n a n d e x p e diti o n ar y c a p a biliti es, c o m m e ns ur at e wit h C hi n a s e x p a n di n g gl o b al i nt erest. I n a d diti o n t o tr a diti o n al s ec urit y c o nc er ns, li k e Tai w a n a n d m ariti m e t errit ori al dis p ut es, iss u es s uc h as c o u nt eri n g t err oris m, h u m a nit ari a n assist a nc e/ dis ast er reli ef ( H A/ D R), a n d s e a-l a n e pr ot ecti o n h a v e n o w b ec o m e f act ors i n t h e P L A s tr ai ni n g, d octri n e, a n d m o d er ni z ati o n eff orts. T his re p ort e x a mi n es t h e r ol es, missi o ns a n d d e v el o p m e nts i n tr ai ni n g wit hi n t h e Pe o pl e s R e p u blic of C hi n a s ( P R C) Pe o pl e s Li b er ati o n Ar m y N a v y s ( P L A N) N a v al Avi ati o n Br a nc h. Wit h t his, o ur s ec o n d p u blis h e d v ol u m e, C A SI c o nti n u es t o e x p a n d t h e u n d erst a n di n g of t h e P L A s a er os p ac e f orc es. W hil e pri m aril y f oc us e d o n d e v el o p m e nts rel at e d t o t h e s er vic es a n d br a nc h es of t h e Pe o pl e s Li b er ati o n Ar m y s a er os p ac e ass ets a n d f orc es, C A SI will als o e x pl ore t o pics a n d areas r el at e d t o t h e s u p p ort viii

8 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) i nfr astr uct ure, i n d ustri al b as e, a n d ci vil- milit ar y i nt e gr ati o n, t h at c o m bi n es t o g et h er t o f or m t h e o v er all C hi n a a er os p ac e fi el d. We h o p e y o u will fi n d t his v ol u m e us ef ul a n d ti m el y, a n d w elc o m e a n y f e e d b ac k o n its c o nt e nts, or s u g g esti o ns f or f urt h er or f ut ur e res e arc h i n t his fi el d. Dr. Bre n d a n S. M ul v a n e y Direct or, C hi n a Aer os p ac e St u di es I nstit ut e i x

9 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S A ut h o r P r o fil e s K e n All e n is t h e R es e arc h Dir ect or f or t h e U S Air F orc e s C hi n a A er os p ac e St u di es I nstit ut e ( C A SI). F or t h e p ast 2 5 ye ars, his pri m ar y f oc us h as b e e n o n C hi n a s milit ar y or g a ni z ati o n al str uct ure, p ers o n n el, e d uc ati o n, tr ai ni n g, a n d f orei g n rel ati o ns wit h p artic ul ar e m p h asis o n t h e P L A Air F orc e. D uri n g 2 1 ye ars i n t h e U. S. Air F orc e ( ), h e s er v e d as a n e nlist e d C hi n es e a n d R ussi a n li n g uist a n d i nt elli g e nc e offic er wit h t o urs i n Tai w a n, B erli n, J a p a n, P A C A F H e a d q u art ers, C hi n a, a n d Was hi n gt o n D C. Fr o m , h e s er v e d as t h e Assist a nt Air Att ac h é i n t h e U. S. E m b ass y i n B eiji n g. H e h as B. A. d e grees fr o m t h e U ni v ersit y of C alif or ni a at D a vis a n d t h e U ni v ersit y of M ar yl a n d a n d a n M. A. d e gree fr o m B ost o n U ni v ersit y. H e h as writt e n m ulti pl e b o o ks, m o n o gr a p hs, c h a pt ers, j o ur n al articl es, a n d o nli n e articl es o n t h e P L A. L yl e J. M orris is a s e ni or p olic y a n al yst at t h e R A N D C or p or ati o n, w h ere h e f oc us es o n s ec urit y d e v el o p m e nts i n E ast a n d S o ut h e ast Asi a. H e h as o v er t e n ye ars of e x p eri e nc e res e arc hi n g a n d l e a di n g pr oj ects o n Asi a- Pacific s ec urit y iss u es a n d h as p u blis h e d rec e ntl y o n t h e ris e of c o ast g u ar ds i n E ast a n d S o ut h e ast Asi a, m ariti m e s ec urit y i n t h e Asi a- Pacific, C hi n es e milit ar y m o d er ni z ati o n, a n d C hi n es e e n g a g e m e nt i n Afric a. H e h ol ds a c ertific at e i n E ast Asi a n St u di es fr o m C ol u m bi a s We at h er h e a d E ast Asi a n I nstit ut e. H e rec ei v e d his b ac h el or s d e gr e e i n i nt er n ati o n al b usi n ess fr o m West er n Was hi n gt o n U ni v ersit y. x

10 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) A b st r a ct T his r e p ort e x a mi n es t h e r ol es, missi o ns a n d d e v el o p m e nts i n tr ai ni n g wit hi n t h e Pe o pl e s R e p u blic of C hi n a s ( P R C) Pe o pl e s Li b er ati o n Ar m y N a v y s ( P L A N) N a v al Avi ati o n br a nc h. N a v al Avi ati o n pr o vi d es t h e P L A N wit h its o w n air c a p a bilit y i n d e p e n d e nt of t h e P L A Air F orc e ( P L A A F). Hist oric all y, N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht ers h a v e i nt erc e pt e d aircr aft al o n g C hi n a s c o ast b ut h a v e n ot pr o vi d e d air c o v er f or n a v al s hi ps at s e a, a n d fi g ht ers still r ar el y pr o vi d e air c o v er f or at-s e a v ess els. H o w e v er, N a v al Avi ati o n s r ol e is b ei n g i ncreasi n gl y tr a nsf or m e d t o i ncl u d e m ariti m e p atr ol, a ntis u b m ari n e w arf are ( A S W ), off e nsi v e stri k es a g ai nst l a n d t ar g ets a n d s hi ps at s e a, l o gistic al s u p p ort, air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g ( A E W ), a n d h elic o pt er s u p p ort f or t h e P L A N s esc ort t as k f orc es i n t h e G ulf of A d e n. N a v al Avi ati o n re m ai ns a l ar g el y l a n d- b as e d f orc e, t h o u g h t h e P L A N s i ncr e asi n g fl e et of d estr o yers, fri g at es, l a n di n g s hi ps a n d re pl e nis h m e nt v ess els are e q ui p p e d wit h s hi p b or n e h elic o pt ers f or o p er ati o n al a n d l o gistics air re q uire m e nts. T h e m uc h a ntici p at e d a n d s p ec ul at e d- a b o ut C hi n es e aircr aft c arri er pr o gr a m will i m p art a n alt o g et h er n e w di m e nsi o n t o N a v al Avi ati o n as it s e e ks t o o p er at e f art h er offs h ore, t o pr ot ect C hi n es e i nt er ests a br o a d; h o w e v er, t h e P L A N is m a n y ye ars a w a y fr o m i nt e gr ati n g a vi a bl e c arri er c o m p o n e nt i nt o its o v er all n a v al str at e g y. xi

11 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S T a bl e of C o nt e nt s C hi n a A er os p a c e St u di es I nstit ut e... vi Pr ef a c e... viii A ut h or Pr ofil es... x A bstr a ct... xi Ta bl e of C o nt e nts... xii S u m m ar y...xi v A b br e vi ati o ns... x vi 1. O v er vi e w... 1 L a yi n g t h e F o u n d ati o n f or t h e N a v al Avi ati o n Br a nc h... 1 N a v al Avi ati o n Missi o ns, Tas ks, a n d R es p o nsi biliti es... 2 F u ncti o n al C o m p o n e nts of N a v al Avi ati o n... 3 N a v al Avi ati o n Aircr aft Tr ai ni n g... 4 K e y Pers o n n el Ter mi n ol o g y... 4 C h all e n g es f or Fl yi n g o v er Wat er... 7 M ulti pl e Ty p es of Aircr aft at t h e S a m e Airfi el d... 8 Tr ai ni n g fr o m ot h er Airfi el ds... 9 Tr ai ni n g i n a C o m pl e x El e ctr o m a g n etic E n vir o n m e nt Cr as h es S u m m ar y N a v al Avi ati o n Aircr aft Tr ai ni n g N a v al Fi g ht er Tr ai ni n g J- 8 Tr a nsiti o n Tr ai ni n g J- 1 0 Tr a nsiti o n Tr ai ni n g N a v al Avi ati o n S u- 3 0 M K 2 Bl u e F orc e Fe n d ui Fli g ht C o m m a n d er G ui d a nc e I nt erc e pt Tr ai ni n g A nti-s hi p Tr ai ni n g a n d Diffic ult We at h er C o n diti o ns Stri ki n g L a n d Tar g ets xii

12 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) N a v al Avi ati o n Fi g ht er- b o m b er Tr ai ni n g N a v al Avi ati o n B o m b er Tr ai ni n g A Ty pic al Tr ai ni n g S orti e L a u nc hi n g t h e We a p o ns Air b or n e E arl y War ni n g Aircr aft a n d Air b or n e C o m m a n d P ost Tr ai ni n g N a v al Avi ati o n Air R ef u eli n g Tr ai ni n g N a v al Avi ati o n H elic o pt er Tr ai ni n g Naval Aviati o n C o m bi ne d- Ar ms, J oi nt, a n d C o m bi ne d Trai ni n g C o m bi n e d- Ar ms Tr ai ni n g wit h ot h er N a v al Br a nc h es J oi nt Tr ai ni n g wit h t h e Ar m y a n d Air F orc e C arri er- b as e d Avi ati o n Tr ai ni n g a n d D e v el o p m e nt P L A Nav y Carrier- base d Aviati o n Trai ni n g a n d Devel o p me nt Avi ati o n Tr ai ni n g f or C arri er O p er ati o ns U nr es ol v e d Q u esti o ns a n d C h all e n g es A h e a d f or P L A N N a v al Avi ati o n O v er all Ass ess m e nt A p p e n di x A: Na v al Avi ati o n O p er ati o n al Air Or der of Battle N a v al Avi ati o n Aircr aft N a v al Avi ati o n Air Or d er of B attl e E n d n otes Bi bli o gr a p hy xiii

13 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S S u m m a r y T his r e p ort e x a mi n es t h e r ol es, missi o ns a n d d e v el o p m e nts i n tr ai ni n g wit hi n t h e Pe o pl e s R e p u blic of C hi n a s ( P R C) Pe o pl e s Li b er ati o n Ar m y N a v y s ( P L A N) N a v al Avi ati o n br a nc h. 1 N a v al Avi ati o n pr o vi d es t h e P L A N wit h its o w n air c a p a bilit y i n d e p e n d e nt of t h e P L A Air F orc e ( P L A A F). Hist oric all y, N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht ers h a v e i nt erc e pt e d aircr aft al o n g C hi n a s c o ast b ut h a v e n ot pr o vi d e d air c o v er f or n a v al s hi ps at s e a, a n d fi g ht ers still r ar el y pr o vi d e air c o v er f or at-s e a v ess els. H o w e v er, N a v al Avi ati o n s r ol e is b ei n g i ncreasi n gl y tr a nsf or m e d t o i ncl u d e m ariti m e p atr ol, a ntis u b m ari n e w arf ar e ( A S W ), off e nsi v e stri k es a g ai nst l a n d t ar g ets a n d s hi ps at s e a, l o gistic al s u p p ort, air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g ( A E W ), a n d h elic o pt er s u p p ort f or t h e P L A N s esc ort t as k f orc es i n t h e G ulf of A d e n. N a v al Avi ati o n re m ai ns a l ar g el y l a n d- b as e d f orc e, t h o u g h t h e P L A N s i ncreasi n g fl e et of d estr o yers, fri g at es, l a n di n g s hi ps a n d re pl e nis h m e nt v ess els are e q ui p p e d wit h s hi p b or n e h elic o pt ers f or o p er ati o n al a n d l o gistics air re q uire m e nts. T h e m uc h a ntici p at e d a n d s p ec ul at e d- a b o ut C hi n es e aircr aft c arri er pr o gr a m will i m p art a n alt o g et h er n e w di m e nsi o n t o N a v al Avi ati o n as it s e e ks t o o p er at e f art h er offs h or e, t o pr ot ect C hi n es e i nt er ests a br o a d; h o w e v er, t h e P L A N is m a n y ye ars a w a y fr o m i nt e gr ati n g a vi a bl e c arri er c o m p o n e nt i nt o its o v er all n a v al str at e g y. T h e first s ecti o n b e gi ns b y pr o vi di n g a bri ef o v er vi e w of N a v al Avi ati o n s hist or y, missi o ns, t as ks, a n d res p o nsi biliti es, as w ell as its or g a ni z ati o n al str uct ure. T h e re m ai ni n g s ecti o ns e x a mi n e tr ai ni n g fr o m t hr o u g h , i ncl usi v e, f or e ac h c o m p o n e nt of N a v al Avi ati o n, i ncl u di n g fi g ht ers, fi g ht er- b o m b ers, b o m b ers, A E W aircr aft, a n d h elic o pt ers. It t h e n l o o ks at N a v al Avi ati o n tr ai ni n g i n t er ms of c o m bi n e d- ar ms tr ai ni n g wit h ot h er P L A N br a nc h es (s urf ac e, s u bs urf ac e, a n d c o ast al d ef e ns e), j oi nt tr ai ni n g wit h t h e xi v

14 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) P L A Ar m y ( P L A A) a n d P L A Air F orc e ( P L A A F), a n d c o m bi n e d tr ai ni n g wit h f orei g n milit ari es. T h e p e n ulti m at e s ecti o n e x a mi n es c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g a n d d e v el o p m e nt. T h e fi n al s ecti o n pr o vi d es a n o v er all ass ess m e nt of N a v al Avi ati o n tr ai ni n g a n d o p er ati o ns. x v

15 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S A b b r e vi ati o n s A DI Z Air D ef e ns e I d e ntific ati o n Z o n e A E W Air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g A E W & C Air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g a n d c o ntr ol A S u W A nti-s urf ac e w arf are A S W A nti-s u b m ari n e w arf are A T C Air tr affic c o ntr oll ers A W A C S Air b or n e w ar ni n g a n d c o ntr ol s yst e m B V R B e y o n d- vis u al-r a n g e C A T O B A R C at a p ult assist e d t a k e- off b ut arrest e d rec o v er y C E M E C o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nt C V B G c arri er b attl e gr o u p E S F E ast S e a Fl e et F C L P ff el d c arri er l a n di n g pr actic e M R A F Milit ar y R e gi o n Air F orc e N A T O P S N a v al a n d Air Tr ai ni n g a n d O p er ati n g Pr oc e d ures N S F N ort h S e a Fl e et O O S O p er ati o n O p e n S hi el d P L A A P L A Ar m y P L A A F P L A Air F orc e P L A N Pe o pl e s Li b er ati o n Ar m y N a v y s P R C Pe o pl e s R e p u blic of C hi n a s S A M S urf ac e-t o- air missil e S L O C S e a li n e of c o m m u nic ati o ns S S F S o ut h S e a Fl e et S T O B A R S h ort t a k e- off b ut arrest e d rec o v er y U A V U n m a n n e d a eri al v e hicl es x vi

16 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) 1. O v e r vi e w L a yi n g t h e F o u n d ati o n f or t h e N a v al A vi ati o n Br a n c h F oll o wi n g its est a blis h m e nt o n 2 3 A pril , t h e Pe o pl e s Li b er ati o n Ar m y N a v y ( P L A N) pr o m ul g at e d its first t hr e e- ye ar pl a n. 2 O n 1 A u g ust , t h e P L A N offici all y cr e at e d t h e N a v al Avi ati o n br a nc h, w hic h is al w a ys list e d t hir d i n pr ot oc ol or d er a m o n g its fi v e br a nc h es (s u b m ari n es, s urf ac e v ess els, a vi ati o n, M ari n e C or ps, a n d c o ast al d ef e ns e), wit h a h e a d q u art ers i n B eiji n g. 3 T h e p orti o ns of t h e i niti al t hree- ye ar pl a n t h at p ert ai n e d t o creati n g a N a v al Avi ati o n ( 海军航空兵 / 海航 ) br a nc h ( 兵种 ) i ncl u d e d: 1) est a blis hi n g t hree air di visi o ns ( o n e a eri al mi n e-l a yi n g b o m b er di visi o n, o n e fi g ht er di visi o n, a n d o n e di visi o n c o nsisti n g of t w o gr o u n d att ac k re gi m e nts a n d o n e fi g ht er re gi m e nt); 2) est a blis hi n g t hree a vi ati o n sc h o ols, w hic h w o ul d tr ai n 1 0, pil ots a n d gr o u n d s u p p ort p ers o n n el; 3) b uil di n g t w o t o t hree N a v al Avi ati o n airfi el ds i n e ac h str at e gic c o m b at ar e a; a n d 4) p urc h asi n g aircr aft a n d n ec ess ar y s u p p ort e q ui p m e nt fr o m t h e S o vi et U ni o n. I n , t h e P L A N a dj ust e d its s urf ac e fl e et b y est a blis hi n g t h e N ort h S e a Fl e et ( N S F / 北海舰队 ), E ast S e a Fl e et ( E S F / 东海舰队 ), a n d S o ut h S e a Fl e et ( S S F / 南海舰队 ), e ac h of w hic h h a d a s u b or di n at e N a v al Avi ati o n H e a d q u art ers, 4 All of t h e N a v al Avi ati o n u nits t h at h a d b e e n cr e at e d w er e t h e n assi g n e d t o t h e a p pr o pri at e fl e et or w er e directl y s u b or di n at e d t o N a v al Avi ati o n H e a d q u art ers. I n N o v e m b er , t h e P L A N a b olis h e d its N a v al Avi ati o n H e a d q u art ers i n B eiji n g a n d creat e d a N a v al Avi ati o n D e p art m e nt u n d er t h e P L A N H e a d q u art ers D e p art m e nt; h o w e v er, it ret ai n e d e ac h of t h e t hr e e fl e et N a v al Avi ati o n H e a d q u art ers, w h er e e ac h of t h e t hr e e c o m m a n d ers s er v es as a c o nc urre nt fl e et d e p ut y c o m m a n d er. 5 Hist oric all y, N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F h a v e h a d diff er e nt c ult ures, e v e n t h o u g h, u ntil t h e e arl y s, t h e P L A A F tr ai n e d 1

17 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht er a n d att ac k pil ots. W h er e as t h e a vi ati o n br a nc h is t h e m ost i m p ort a nt of t h e P L A A F s fi v e br a nc h es, N a v al Avi ati o n h as al w a ys b e e n list e d t hir d b e hi n d b el o w t h e s urf ac e a n d s u bs urf ac e br a nc h es, a n d h as n ot rec ei v e d as m uc h att e nti o n as t h e m. E v e n t h o u g h t h e P L A A F a n d N a v al Avi ati o n h a v e hist oric all y b e e n or g a ni z e d i nt o air di visi o ns a n d re gi m e nts, as disc uss e d i n t his c h a pt er, N a v al Avi ati o n occ asi o n all y mi x es diff ere nt airfr a m es. F urt h er m or e, w h ereas t h e P L A A F b e g a n cr e ati n g air bri g a d es i n , N a v al Avi ati o n a p p are ntl y h as n ot creat e d a n y air bri g a d es. I n a d diti o n, w h ereas t h e P L A A F h as b e e n s hifti n g at l e ast s o m e of its c o m m a n d ers fr o m t h e t o p of t h e c o ntr ol t o w er t o t h e c o m m a n d p ost i n t h e b ott o m of t h e c o ntr ol t o w er, N a v al Avi ati o n h as a p p are ntl y n ot f oll o w e d s uit. Fi n all y, as n ot e d i n t h e c h a pt er, N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F r arel y tr ai n t o g et h er. N a v al A vi ati o n Mi s si o n s, T a s k s, a n d R e s p o n si biliti e s Acc or di n g t o C hi n a s a n d D ef e ns e W hit e Pa p er, r es p ecti v el y, T h e P L A N s pri m ar y missi o ns ar e, i n d e p e n d e ntl y or j oi ntl y wit h t h e Ar m y a n d Air F orc e, t o g u ar d a g ai nst e n e m y i n v asi o n fr o m t h e s e a, d ef e n d t h e st at e s s o v erei g nt y o v er its t errit ori al w at ers, a n d s af e g u ar d t h e st at e s m ariti m e ri g hts a n d i nt erests a n d Is C hi n a s m ai nst a y f or o p er ati o ns at s e a t h at is res p o nsi bl e f or s af e g u ar di n g its m ariti m e s ec urit y a n d m ai nt ai ni n g its s o v erei g nt y o v er its t errit ori al s e as al o n g wit h its m ariti m e ri g hts a n d i nt erests. 6 Wit hi n t h e P L A N s o v er all missi o ns, N a v al Avi ati o n s pri m ar y missi o n is t o c arr y o ut c o m b at t as ks at s e a a n d c o ast al airs p ac e wit h n a v al aircr aft as its pri m ar y e q ui p m e nt. 7 It h as t h e a bilit y t o c o n d uct l o n g-r a n g e o p er ati o ns, hi g h-s p e e d m o bilit y, a n d att ac ks, a n d i n d e p e n d e ntl y c arr y o ut m ulti pl e t y p es of c o m b at missi o ns. 8 N a v al Avi ati o n s areas of res p o nsi bilit y ( A O Rs) i ncl u d e b ot h c o ast al a n d m ariti m e d o m ai ns, wit h a n e m p h asis o n t h e m ariti m e s p h ere. 9 O v er all, N a v al Avi ati o n s missi o n is c o m p os e d of s e v er al t as ks t h at i ncl u d e pr ot ecti n g t h e m ariti m e a n d m ariti m e airs p ac e d o m ai n 2

18 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) t hr o u g h off e nsi v e stri k e, air d ef e ns e, m ariti m e rec o n n aiss a nc e a n d p atr ol, a nti-s u b m ari n e w arf are ( A S W ), a n d a nti-s urf ac e w arf are ( A S u W ). 1 0 As N a v al Avi ati o n c o nti n u es t o ac q uir e aircr aft wit h gr e at er r a n g es a n d e n d ur a nc e, P L A N offici al r e p orti n g h a v e a d d e d bl u e w at er ( 大洋 ) o p er ati o ns t o N a v al Avi ati o n s list of res p o nsi biliti es, as w ell. 1 1 Acc or di n g t o t h e a n d Scie nce of C a m p ai g ns, o n e of t h e m ai n missi o ns f or t h e P L A A F a n d N a v al Avi ati o n is t o c o n d uct a d v a nc e d mi n es w e e pi n g a n d o bst acl e cl e ari n g b y e x ec uti n g k e y- p oi nt d estr ucti o n of a nti- a m p hi bi o us-l a n di n g o bst acl es l ai d b y t h e e n e m y i n t h e s urf z o n e a n d o n t h e b e ac h h e a d, s o as t o re d uc e t h e d e nsit y of t h e o bst acl es, i n or d er t o creat e t h e c o n diti o ns f or f oll o w- o n direct d estr ucti o n of o bst acl es. 1 2 S p ecific all y, air ass ets w o ul d us e air- dr o p p e d d e m oliti o n b o m bs t o d estr o y e n e m y o bst acl es al o n g t h e s urf z o n e a n d o n b e ac h es, a n d t h e y s h o ul d c arr y o ut f oc us e d b o m bi n g a g ai nst f ortifi e d o bst acl es, s uc h as tr ac k e d b ul w ar ks a n d bl oc ki n g w alls. H o w e v er, t his ass u m es a p er missi v e e n vir o n m e nt f or aircr aft, w hic h will m ost li k el y n ot b e t h e c as e. F u n cti o n al C o m p o n e nt s of N a v al A vi ati o n B esi d es its a vi ati o n c o m p o n e nt c o nsisti n g of aircr aft, h elic o pt ers, a n d airfi el ds, N a v al Avi ati o n, li k e t h e P L A A F, h as s u b or di n at e s urf ac e-t o- air missil e ( S A M), a nti aircr aft artill er y ( A A A), r a d ar, c o m m u nic ati o ns, c h e mic al d ef e ns e, aircr aft m ai nt e n a nc e, a n d l o gistics u nits, as w ell as v ari o us ac a d e mic i nstit uti o ns. To d a y, e ac h of C hi n a s t hree fl e ets h as o n e N a v al Avi ati o n r a d ar bri g a d e, w hil e t h e N S F is t h e o nl y fl e et w h os e N a v al Avi ati o n c o m p o n e nt h as a c o m bi n e d- ar ms air d ef e ns e bri g a d e c o nsisti n g of S A Ms, A A A, a n d r a d ar st ati o ns. Alt h o u g h N a v al Avi ati o n ori gi n all y h a d s u b or di n at e S A Ms, it a p p ar e ntl y di v est e d its elf of a n y S A M u nits i n t h e l at e s, b ut it is n ot cl e ar w h at h a p p e n e d t o t h e u nits. B y l at e , h o w e v er, t h e N S F s N a v al Avi ati o n h a d r e-i nc or p or at e d S A Ms al o n g wit h its e xisti n g A A A re gi m e nt a n d r a d ar st ati o ns i nt o a 3

19 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S c o m bi n e d- ar ms air d ef e ns e bri g a d e. 1 3 N o S A M u nits h a v e b e e n i d e ntifi e d u n d er t h e E S F s or S S F s N a v al Avi ati o n. I n a d diti o n, t h e P L A N s c o ast al d ef e ns e br a nc h a p p ar e ntl y cr e at e d a n air d ef e ns e bri g a d e c o nsisti n g of A A A, S A Ms, a n d r a d ar i n t h e S S F ar o u n d ( S e e A p p e n di x A). N a v al A vi ati o n Air cr aft Tr ai ni n g T h e f oll o wi n g s ecti o ns a d dr ess tr ai ni n g b y e ac h of t h e aircr aft c o m p o n e nts of N a v al Avi ati o n, i ncl u di n g fi g ht ers, fi g ht er- b o m b ers, b o m b ers, air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g ( A E W ) aircr aft, h elic o pt ers, s e a pl a n es, a n d u n m a n n e d a eri al v e hicl es ( U A V ). It is i m p ort a nt t o n ot e, h o w e v er, t h at e ac h c o m p o n e nt is or g a ni z e d si mil arl y. T h eref ore, t h e f oll o wi n g s ecti o n disc uss es c o m m o n aliti es t h at c a n a p pl y t o all c o m p o n e nts. K e y P er s o n n el T er mi n ol o g y T h e P L A N n a v al a vi ati o n br a nc h us es milit ar y t er mi n ol o g y i n C hi n es e l a n g u a g e si mil ar t o t h at f o u n d i n t h e " P L A Ar m y Avi ati o n" P L A A F b ut wit h s u btl e diff ere nc es, t h us re q uiri n g a bri ef o v er vi e w f or t h e rea d er. First, li k e m ost air f orc es, N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F us e t h e g e n er al t er m a vi at or ( 飞行人员 a n d 空军 ) t o r ef er t o fi g ht er, att ac k, h elic o pt er, b o m b er a n d tr a ns p ort pil ots, as w ell as b o m b er a n d tr a ns p ort fli g ht cr e w m e m b ers, i ncl u di n g n a vi g at ors, c o m m u nic at ors, g u n n ers, a n d m ai nt e n a nc e p ers o n n el. 1 4 N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F us e t h e t er m pil ot ( 飞行员 ) t o r ef er s p ecific all y t o s o m e o n e w h o fli es t h e aircr aft; h o w e v er, t h e t er m is als o us e d g e n eric all y, t o r ef er t o all aircr aft cr e w m e m b ers. T h eref ore, w h e n e x a mi ni n g t h e recr uit m e nt, e d uc ati o n, a n d tr ai ni n g f or a vi at ors or pil ots, it is i m p ort a nt t o u n d erst a n d w h et h er t h es e t er ms ref er t o s p ecific p ers o n n el or all of t h e cre w m e m b ers. 1 5 Alt h o u g h v er y f e w articl es f o u n d i d e ntifi e d t h e l e a d pil ots ( 长机 ) of a t w o-, t hr e e-, or f o ur-s hi p f or m ati o n ( 编队 ), it is n ot u nc o m m o n 4

20 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) f or t h e di visi o n c o m m a n d er ( 师长 ) or o n e of t h e d e p ut y di visi o n c o m m a n d ers ( 副师长 ), or t h e re gi m e nt c o m m a n d er ( 团长 ) or o n e of t h e d e p ut y re gi m e nt c o m m a n d ers ( 副团长 ) t o b e t h e l e a d pil ot f or t h e fli g ht f or m ati o n. 1 6 N or m all y, h o w e v er, t h e b att ali o n-l e v el fli g ht gr o u p c o m m a n d er ( 大队长 ), o n e of t h e fli g ht gr o u p d e p ut y c o m m a n d ers ( 副大队长 ), or o n e of t h e s q u a dr o n-l e v el fli g ht s q u a dr o n c o m m a n d ers ( 副中队长 ) s er v e as t h e l e a d pil ot. It is als o n ot u nc o m m o n f or t h e re gi m e nt, fli g ht gr o u p, a n d fli g ht s q u a dr o n c o m m a n d ers a n d d e p ut y c o m m a n d ers t o fl y as a wi n g m a n f or a y o u n g er pil ot w h o is tr ai ni n g t o b ec o m e a l e a d pil ot. T h e r e as o n f or t his, is t h at all pil ots m ust als o s er v e as a n i nstr uct or pil ot at e ac h l e v el as t h e y m o v e u p t h e gr a d e l a d d er. As a g e n er al r ul e, fli g ht s q u a dr o n c o m m a n d ers are s ec o n d- gr a d e ( 二级 ) pil ots, fli g ht gr o u p d e p ut y c o m m a n d ers a n d c o m m a n d ers are first- gr a d e ( 一级 ) pil ots, a n d r e gi m e nt d e p ut y c o m m a n d ers a n d a b o v e ar e s p e ci al - gr a d e ( 特级 ) pil ots. 1 7 Ot h er fli g ht cr e w m e m b ers i ncl u d e a c o- pil ot, n a vi g at or, r a d ar o p er at ors, a n d c o m m u nic ati o ns p ers o n n el. 1 8 T h e n a vi g at or i n all t w o-s e at fi g ht er- b o m b ers a n d b o m b ers is res p o nsi bl e f or pressi n g t h e b o m b rel e as e b utt o ns. 1 9 N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F us e t h e t er m air b or n e c o m m a n d er ( 空中指挥员 ) i n t w o diff er e nt w a ys. First, h e is t h e l e a d pil ot f or aircr aft fl yi n g t o g et h er i n a t w o-s hi p f or m ati o n. S ec o n d, h e is t h e si n gl e offic er o n a n A E W aircr aft t h at is s er vi n g as a n air b or n e c o m m a n d p ost w h o pr o vi d es g ui d a nc e t o c o m b at aircr aft i n t h e air. D uri n g a tr ai ni n g d a y, a t y pic al c o ntr ol t o w er is m a n n e d b y u p t o t wel ve officers. T he ter m fli g ht c o m ma n der ( 飞行指挥员 ) ref ers t o t h e t hr e e s e ni or offic ers i n t h e c o ntr ol t o w er w h o s er v e as air tr affic c o ntr oll ers ( A T C) a n d aircr aft c o m m a n d a n d g ui d a nc e ( 指挥引导 ) c o ntr oll ers f or air e n g a g e m e nts. 2 0 As s h o w n i n t h e p h ot o b el o w, t h e s e ni or fli g ht c o m m a n d er i n t h e c o ntr ol t o w er is n or m all y t h e re gi m e nt c o m m a n d er, o n e of t h e t w o t o t hr e e d e p ut y c o m m a n d ers, or t h e c hi ef of st aff ( e. g., t h e direct or of t h e 5

21 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S H e a d q u art ers D e p art m e nt). 2 1 Ot h er k e y p ers o n n el i n t h e t o w er i ncl u d e n a vi g ati o n a n d c o m m u nic ati o ns direct ors. 2 2 D e p e n di n g o n t h e sit u ati o n, t h e re gi m e nt s p olitic al c o m miss ar c a n als o b e i n t h e t o w er. 2 3 Fi g u r e 1: Ai r Tr af fi c C o nt r oll e r s S o urc e: N a vy To d ay, Oct o b er , p E ac h of t h e t hree fli g ht c o m m a n d ers w e ars a n ar m p atc h wit h t h e c h ar act ers f or fli g ht c o m m a n d er. Alt h o u g h t h e P L A A F b e g a n m o vi n g t h es e offic ers i n s o m e, b ut n ot all, u nits fr o m t h e t o p of t h e c o ntr ol t o w er t o t h e c o m m a n d p ost i n t h e b ott o m of t h e t o w er i n a n d re pl aci n g t h e m wit h ot h er offic ers i d e ntifi e d as fli g ht a dj ust ers ( 飞行调配员 ), it d o es n ot a p p e ar t h at N a v al Avi ati o n h as f oll o w e d s uit. As s uc h, t h e s e ni or fli g ht c o m m a n d er still c o ntr ols virt u all y all N a v al Avi ati o n fli g ht acti vit y fr o m t a k e off t o l a n di n g. It is n ot cl e ar w h y N a v al Avi ati o n h as n ot f oll o w e d s uit wit h t h e P L A A F or w h y n ot all P L A A F u nits h a v e m a d e t h e tr a nsiti o n. U p o n rec ei vi n g a n or d er fr o m t h e fli g ht c o m m a n d er i n t h e t o w er, t h e aircr aft t a k e off i n s ucc essi o n, j oi n u p at a pre d et er mi n e d l oc ati o n, a n d t h e n d e p art as a fli g ht f or m ati o n f or t h eir stri k e missi o n u n d er r a di o sil e nc e. 2 4 At s o m e p oi nt aft er t h e f or m ati o n arri v es o v er w at er, it d esc e n ds t o v er y l o w altit u d e b ef ore it a p pr o ac h es its t ar g et. 6

22 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) Pri or t o , P L A A F a n d N a v al Avi ati o n pil ots als o rec ei v e d t h eir fli g ht pl a ns fr o m a st aff offic er i n t h e re gi m e nt h e a d q u art ers. As e arl y as mi d , t h e P L A A F b e g a n e x p eri m e nti n g wit h t h e c o nc e pt of w h at it c alls pil ot a ut o n o m y ( 自主 ), w hic h f oc us es o n t w o of t h e pil ot s t hr e e- p h as e tr ai ni n g missi o n creati n g t h eir o w n fli g ht pl a n a n d c o n d ucti n g t ec h ni q u es/s kills tr ai ni n g i n t h e n u m b er e d fli g ht z o n es wit h o ut g ui d a nc e fr o m t h e c o ntr ol t o w er. H o w e v er, it w as a p p are ntl y n ot f ull y i m pl e m e nt e d t hr o u g h o ut t h e P L A A F u ntil Si nc e , i n di vi d u al P L A A F u nits h a v e sl o wl y b e g u n t o i m pl e m e nt t h e pil ot a ut o n o m y pr o gr a m. N a v al Avi ati o n a p p are ntl y b e g a n i m pl e m e nti n g v ari o us c o m p o n e nts of pil ot a ut o n o m y as e arl y as , w h e n it rec ei v e d its first J- 1 0 u nit. 2 5 It a p p e ars t h at s o m e P L A A F a n d N a v al Avi ati o n u nits are still i n t h e i m pl e m e nt ati o n p h as e of t his pr o gr a m. C h all e n g e s f or Fl yi n g o v er W at er N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F brea k t h e d a y i nt o t hree fl yi n g p eri o ds: d a y ( ), d a y i nt o ni g ht ( ), a n d aft er mi d ni g ht ( ). D uri n g t h e s, t h e y i nstit ut e d l ar g e fl yi n g p eri o ds t h at m o v e fr o m d a y i nt o e v e ni n g, e v e ni n g i nt o aft er mi d ni g ht, a n d aft er mi d ni g ht i nt o d a y. 2 6 T h e y als o b e g a n c o n d ucti n g w h at t h e y ref err e d t o as r olli n g-t y p e tr ai ni n g t h at c a n l ast u p t o 2 4 h o urs a n d tr a nsiti o ns t hr o u g h all t hree fl yi n g p eri o ds. T h at s ai d, f or t h e s a k e of s af et y, m ost N a v al Avi ati o n tr ai ni n g w as oft e n c o n d uct e d b ef ore ni g htf all. Pre-fli g ht s u p p ort f or t h e b o m b ers all t o o k pl ac e i n d a yti m e or u n d er bri g ht li g hts. T h at pr actic e i n h ere ntl y li mit e d a n d l o w er e d t h e st a n d ar d of tr ai ni n g. I n , N a v al Avi ati o n r e g ar d e d hi g hl y diffic ult a n d d a n g er o us tr ai ni n g t o pics, s uc h as ni g ht tr ai ni n g, as pl a yi n g t h e m ai n r ol e i n act u al c o m b at ( 实战 ) tr ai ni n g. 2 7 Alt h o u g h n o offici al P L A d efi niti o n w as f o u n d f or act u al c o m b at, t h e t er m h as b e e n us e d si nc e t h e l at e s a n d b asic all y ref ers t o c o n d ucti n g u nscri pt e d tr ai ni n g i n all w e at h er c o n diti o ns, at all ti m es 7

23 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S of t h e d a y a n d ni g ht, u n d er c o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nt ( C E M E) c o n diti o ns, a n d, f or aircr aft, at all altit u d es a n d o v er w at er. N a v al Avi ati o n is als o c o n d ucti n g m ore l o n g- dist a nc e s orti es o v er w at er at w h at it c alls v er y-l o w or e xtre m e-l o w altit u d e, w hic h it d efi n es as l ess t h a n m et ers, a n d l o w altit u d e, w hic h it d efi n es as t o 1, m et ers. 2 8 N a v al Avi ati o n h as ac k n o wl e d g e d t h at it f ac es s e v er al pr o bl e ms i n c o n d ucti n g l o n g-r a n g e, o v er- w at er tr ai ni n g, es p eci all y at ni g ht. S p ecific all y, it is u n d er pr ess ur e t o c o n d uct all tr ai ni n g t o hi g h s af et y st a n d ar ds, b ut, i n or d er t o c o n d uct tr ai ni n g u n d er act u al-c o m b at c o n diti o ns, it m ust d e al wit h f ast c h a n g es i n w e at h er c o n diti o ns, great diffic ulti es i n or g a ni zi n g tr ai ni n g, a n d t h e e x h a usti n g eff ects of cre w m e m b er bi ol o gic al cl oc ks b ei n g u psi d e- d o w n d uri n g ni g ht tr ai ni n g. 2 9 I n a d diti o n, w h e n fl yi n g at ni g ht o v er w at er at v er y-l o w altit u d e, t h e s k y is pitc h- d ar k a n d t h ere are f e w vis u al r ef er e nc es, w hic h m e a ns a n a vi at or c a n e asil y mis p erc ei v e w h ere h e is. 3 0 As a res ult, t h e d a n g er a n d diffic ult y c o effici e nts are hi g h. O v er t h e p ast c o u pl e of ye ars, N a v al Avi ati o n h as b e e n tr yi n g t o c h a n g e its tr ai ni n g fr o m w h at it c alls t h e n a n n y st yl e m o d e of c o m m a n d, w h er e fli g ht, n a vi g ati o n, a n d c o m m u nic ati o n direct ors k e pt w atc h fr o m t h e c o ntr ol t o w er, t o a n e w m o d el, w h er e t h e aircr e ws p artici p ati n g i n t h e tr ai ni n g n o w h a v e a fr e e h a n d t o p e n etr at e d ef e ns es, att ac k, a n d c o p e wit h d a n g er o n t h eir o w n, b as e d o n t h e tr ai ni n g t o pic a n d t h e b attl efi el d sit u ati o n. 3 1 M ulti pl e T y p e s of Air cr aft at t h e S a m e Air fi el d Fr o m t hr o u g h t h e e n d of , a n u ni d e ntifi e d airfi el d i n t h e E ast S e a Fl e et c o n d uct e d m ore t h a n 5 0 m aj or tr ai ni n g e v e nts a n d e x ercis es t h at i n v ol v e d u p t o fi v e diff ere nt airfr a m es, i ncl u di n g h elic o pt ers, U A Vs, tr a ns p ort aircr aft, r ec o n n aiss a nc e aircr aft, a n d diff er e nt m o d els of fi g ht ers. 3 2 F or e x a m pl e, i n A u g ust , t h e airfi el d s u p p ort e d t hree diff ere nt re gi m e nts wit h s e v er al d o z e n 8

24 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) aircr aft of fi v e diff ere nt m o d els d uri n g a j oi nt e x ercis e. O n e of t h e bi g g est c h all e n g es i n v ol v e d c h a n gi n g t h e e ntire l o gistics a n d m ai nt e n a nc e s u p p ort s yst e m si nc e , w h e n t h e airfi el d s u p p ort e d o nl y o n e m o d el of aircr aft. To acc o m plis h t his, t h e airfi el d st ati o n i ncreas e d its p ers o n n el a n d f aciliti es, as w ell as i m pl e m e nti n g b ett er i nf or m ati o n t ec h n ol o g y s yst e ms t o m o nit or m ai nt e n a nc e. As a res ult, t h e airfi el d st ati o n w as r e p ort e dl y a bl e t o s h ort e n t h e aircr aft pre p ar ati o n ti m e f or re- dis p atc h b y n e arl y 2 0 mi n ut es, c o m p ar e d t o its hist oric al c a p a bilit y. 3 3 Yet a n ot h er c h all e n g e w as assi g ni n g airs p ac e t o diff er e nt t y p es of aircr aft at t h e s a m e ti m e. To acc o m plis h t his, t h e airfi el d est a blis h e d t h e pri nci pl e of fi g ht er first, tr a ns p ort aircr aft l at er; fli g ht f or b attl e first, fli g ht f or ot h er p ur p os es l at er; s u p p ort f or t h e o n e w h o t a k es off first. T his i n v ol v e d m et h o ds of ref u eli n g i n a d v a nc e f or firstti m e dis p atc h, c o m bi n ati o n of aircr aft t o wi n g a n d t a xii n g, or d erl y a m m u niti o n e xtr acti o n, r ef u eli n g, i nfl ati o n, p o w er- o n, a n d p ar ac h ut e p ac ki n g, as w ell as res u p pl y b as e d o n circ u mst a nc e, t h us s h ort e ni n g t h e gr o u n d s u p p ort ti m e a n d o v erc o mi n g t h e t e n d e nc y i n gr o u n d s u p p ort t o w ar ds c h a os a n d i n effici e nc y. A si mil ar sit u ati o n h as occ urr e d wit h t h e S S F s 9t h Air Di visi o n o n H ai n a n Isl a n d, w h ere o n e airfi el d c a n n o w s u p p ort a p pr o xi m at el y 2 0 diff ere nt t y p es a n d m o d els of aircr aft. 3 4 O v er t h e p ast f e w ye ars, t h e d ail y a v er a g e c a p acit y of t h e airfi el d h as b e e n fi v e ti m es great er t h a n t h at of si mil ar airfi el ds. D uri n g a n e x ercis e i n J a n u ar y , t h e airfi el d s u p p ort e d o v er 5 0 A E W aircr aft, fi g ht ers, b o m b ers, a n d h elic o pt ers at t h e s a m e ti m e, i ncl u di n g u p t o 5 0 al ert l a u nc h es b y as m a n y as 1 0 diff ere nt m o d els. Tr ai ni n g fr o m ot h er Air fi el d s N a v al Avi ati o n h as gr a d u all y i ncreas e d its a bilit y t o d e pl o y aircr aft t o ot h er airfi el ds i n or d er t o r e pl e nis h t h e aircr aft eit h er b ef ore e n g a gi n g t h e e n e m y or aft er c o ncl u di n g t h eir missi o ns, i n c o ntr ast t o a n hist oric al p att er n of o p er ati n g aircr aft e xcl usi v el y 9

25 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S fr o m t h eir h o m e airfi el d, w hic h w as b as e d pri m aril y o n t h e l ac k of a fl e xi bl e l o gistics a n d m ai nt e n a nc e s u p p ort s yst e m. I n a d diti o n, s o m e aircr aft oft e n d e pl o y t o diff er e nt airfi el ds t o c o n d uct t h eir i nt erc e pt missi o ns. F or e x a m pl e, i n A pril , s e v er al aircr aft fr o m a n E S F r e gi m e nt d e pl o ye d t o a diff ere nt airfi el d i n a n ot h er pr o vi nc e. 3 5 S h ortl y aft er arri vi n g, t w o of t h e aircr aft w ere scr a m bl e d t o c o n d uct a c o m b at p atr ol missi o n. M e a n w hil e, gr o u n d cre ws i m m e di at el y st art e d circ uit c h ec ks, air a n d f u el s er vic es, a n d d at a c ali br ati o n o n t w o a d diti o n al aircr aft, r a pi dl y c o m pl eti n g pre p ar ati o n f or a n ot h er d e pl o y m e nt. At t h e s a m e ti m e, t h e c o m m a n d gr o u p i n t h e c o ntr ol t o w er h el d a bri ef m e eti n g, tr a ns mitt e d air a n d s e a sit u ati o n r e p orts, cl arifi e d t h e sit u ati o n, a n d arr a n g e d u ni d e ntifi e d missi o ns. I n a d diti o n, as n ot e d i n S ecti o n 1 2, N a v al Avi ati o n aircr aft h a v e als o fl o w n o ut of P L A A F airfi el ds, as occ urre d d uri n g t h e first free air c o m b at ( 自由空战 ) missi o n, i n A u g ust Alt h o u g h n o offici al d efi niti o n w as f o u n d, a r e vi e w of m ulti pl e r ef er e nc es i n dic at e t h at free air c o m b at i n v ol v es c o n d ucti n g air-t o- air e n g a g e m e nts i n s p ecifi e d airs p ac e wit h o ut strict g ui d a nc e fr o m t h e fli g ht c o m m a n d er i n t h e t o w er. S o f ar, t h e f oc us i n o p e n s o urc e re p orti n g h as b e e n o n o n e- v ers us- o n e si mil ar a n d dissi mil ar aircr aft e n g a g e m e nts. Tr ai ni n g i n a C o m pl e x El e ctr o m a g n eti c E n vir o n m e nt Al m ost e v er y N a v al Avi ati o n articl e st at es t h at its c o m p o n e nts e n g a g e i n si m ul at e d or realistic j a m mi n g a n d c o u nt er-j a m mi n g u n d er C E M E c o n diti o ns o n a r e g ul ar b asis. As t h e fi g ht ers, fi g ht erb o m b ers, A E W aircr aft, a n d b o m b ers a p pr o ac h t h eir s e a b or n e or l a n d- b as e d t ar g et, t h e y e n g a g e i n el ectr o m a g n etic j a m mi n g a n d c o u nt er-j a m mi n g of r a d ar, c o m m u nic ati o ns, a n d g ui d e d missil e s yst e ms. 3 7 B esi d es t h e aircr aft, v ari o us l a n d- b as e d r a d ars a n d gr o u n d- b as e d c o m m a n d p osts als o rec ei v e el ectr o m a g n etic j a m mi n g fr o m l a n d- b as e d, s e a- b as e d, a n d air b or n e j a m m ers. 3 8 To c o u nt er t h e j a m mi n g, t h e aircr aft c o m m a n d er iss u es a n or d er t o i niti at e t h e c o u nt er-j a m mi n g m o d e, w hic h i ncl u d e d s y nc hr o ni zi n g ti m es, 1 0

26 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) c o m p ari n g w a v el e n gt hs, a n d or g a ni zi n g n et w or ks. 3 9 W h e n t h e aircr aft b e g a n t o rec ei v e j a m mi n g, t h e n a vi g at or i niti at es i nfr are d j a m mi n g. As t h e aircr aft a p pr o ac h t h e e n e m y s urf ac e v ess els, l a n d- b as e d t ar g ets, or fi g ht ers, a n d t h e e n e m y r a d ars h a v e alrea d y l oc k e d o nt o t h e m, t h e pil ot or n a vi g at or c o u nt ers b y pr essi n g a b utt o n t o r el e as e j a m mi n g pr oj ectil es. 4 0 Alt h o u g h Re n mi n H aij u n articl es f or j ust a b o ut e v er y tr ai ni n g e v e nt a n d e x ercis e i n v ol v e s o m e t y p e of j a m mi n g a n d c o u nt erj a m mi n g, it is n ot cl e ar h o w m uc h is si m ul at e d a n d h o w m uc h is r e al. I n e vit a bl y, t h e R e d F orc e o v erc o m es t h e j a m mi n g a n d is a bl e t o s ucc essf ull y c o m pl et e its missi o n. Cr a s h e s O v er t h e ye ars, s e v er al N a v al Avi ati o n aircr aft h a v e cr as h e d d uri n g tr ai ni n g, pri m aril y fr o m aircr aft m alf u ncti o ns. F or e x a m pl e, o n 1 7 D ec e m b er , a t w o-s e at J- 1 0 fr o m t h e E S F s 4t h Air Di visi o n cr as h e d wit h o ut a n y d a m a g e t o ci vili a n p ers o n n el or pr o p ert y i nsi d e Z h eji a n g Pr o vi nc e n e ar Tai z h o u Cit y w hil e c o n d ucti n g ni g ht fli g ht tr ai ni n g. 4 1 Acc or di n g t o press re p orts, t h e aircr aft s p u n o ut of c o ntr ol b ec a us e of a m alf u ncti o n o wi n g t o fre q u e nt ni g ht tr ai ni n g a n d pr o bl e ms d e ali n g wit h t h e R ussi a n- m a d e e n gi n e. B ot h pil ots ej ect e d s af el y. I n a d diti o n, o n 1 1 M a y , a N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht er cr as h e d i n Tai z h o u, Z h eji a n g Pr o vi nc e. 4 2 T h e cre w ej ect e d s af el y, b ut t h e aircr aft cr as h e d i nt o a f act or y wit h n o c as u alti es. S u m m ar y As disc uss e d i n t his s ecti o n, N a v al Avi ati o n h as b e e n m o vi n g f or w ar d i n m a n y w a ys c o nc er ni n g its o v er- w at er tr ai ni n g, tr ai ni n g m ulti pl e airfr a m es o n o n e airfi el d, a n d tr ai ni n g u n d er C E M E c o n diti o ns o n a re g ul ar b asis. E v e n t h o u g h it c o nti n u es t o f ac e t h es e 1 1

27 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S c o nstr ai nts, N a v al a vi ati o n pil ots fl y o ut of m ulti pl e airfi el ds. As a r es ult, m ulti pl e airfi el ds ar e s ucc essf ull y d e ali n g wit h t h e l o gistics a n d m ai nt e n a nc e iss u es c o nc er ni n g h a vi n g m ore t h a n o n e airfr a m e, a n d a vi at ors are tr ai ni n g m ore oft e n u n d er act u al a n d si m ul at e d C E M E c o n diti o ns. Of n ot e, a re vi e w of t h e res e arc h m at eri al f or t his p a p er f o u n d o nl y a f e w r ef er e nc es t o A S W tr ai ni n g b y 1) r ec o n n aiss a nc e aircr aft, 2) s hi p b or n e a n d l a n d- b as e d h elic o pt ers a n d S H- 5 s e a pl a n es t h at i ncl u d e di p pi n g s o n ars i nt o t h e w at er a n d firi n g air-l a u nc h e d a ntis u b m ari n e t or p e d o es, a n d 3) J H- 7 fi g ht er b o m b ers t h at fir e t or p e d o es. We at h er a n d s e a c o n diti o ns ar e al w a ys a k e y f act or i n w h et h er t h e h elic o pt ers c a n p erf or m t h eir missi o ns. Alt h o u g h t h e P L A N r ar el y us es t h e t er m s e a li n e of c o m m u nic ati o ns ( S L O C / 海上交通线 ), as disc uss e d l at er i n t h e p a p er, v ari o us n a v al a vi ati o n aircr aft d o c o n d uct p atr ol a n d stri k e missi o ns t o pr ot ect w h at c a n b e c o nsi d er e d C hi n a s S L O Cs, i ncl u di n g A S u W missi o ns. T h e n e xt s ecti o n t a k es a cl os er l o o k at t h e i n di vi d u al t y p es of tr ai ni n g b y fi g ht er pil ots. 1 2

28 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) 2. N a v al A vi ati o n Ai r c r aft Tr ai ni n g T h e f oll o wi n g s ecti o ns pr o vi d e d f airl y d et ail e d i nf or m ati o n a b o ut N a v al Avi ati o n, fi g ht er, fi g ht er- b o m b er, b o m b er, a n d h elic o pt er tr ai ni n g. T h e k e y iss u es a n d t h e m es of t h e a n al ysis are as f oll o ws 1) N a v al Avi ati o n h as t h e s a m e t y p es of c o m b at aircr aft as t h e P L A A F a n d is b ec o mi n g a m uc h m ore c a p a bl e f orc e; 2) N a v al Avi ati o n n o w h as a d e dic at e d Bl u e F orc e u nit; 3) N a v al Avi ati o n is c o n d ucti n g l o n g-r a n g e missi o ns t h at occ asi o n all y us e m ore t h a n o n e airfi el d; 4) l e a d pil ots c o nti n u e t o rec ei v e g ui d a nc e fr o m t h e u nit c o m m a n d er i n t h e c o ntr ol t o w er or a n air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g aircr aft; 5) u nits are n o w c o n d ucti n g tr ai ni n g i n all t y p es of w e at h er c o n diti o ns a n d at ni g ht; 6) t h e di visi o n or r e gi m e nt c o m m a n d er oft e n s er v es as t h e l e a d pil ot; a n d 7) N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F are gr a d u all y st arti n g t o tr ai n t o g et h er fr o m t h e s a m e airfi el ds a n d i n t h e s a m e airs p ac e, b ut n ot i n t h e s a m e f or m ati o ns. N a v al Fi g ht er Tr ai ni n g N a v al Avi ati o n s fi g ht ers i ncl u d e J- 7, J- 8, J- 1 0, J- 1 1, a n d S u- 3 0 aircr aft. To g et h er, t h eir missi o ns i ncl u d e e n g a gi n g e n e m y aircr aft, s h o oti n g d o w n missil es, a n d att ac ki n g v ess els a n d l a n d t ar g ets. T his s ecti o n disc uss es v ari o us tr ai ni n g b y aircr aft fr o m e ac h of t h e t hree fl e ets, t o i ncl u d e tr ai ni n g s e q u e nc es f or u nits assi g n e d a n e w t y p e of aircr aft, tr ai ni n g i n diff ere nt s e as o ns, a n d tr ai ni n g d uri n g diff ere nt ti m es of t h e d a y a n d i n C E M E c o n diti o ns. It als o disc uss es N a v al Avi ati o n s S u- 3 0 M K 2 Bl u e F orc e fe n d ui ( e. g., b att ali o n-l e v el fli g ht gr o u p). J- 8 Tr a nsiti o n Tr ai ni n g I n M arc h , a n N S F re gi m e nt c o n d uct e d its first hi g h- e n d ur a nc e, l o n g-r a n g e t actic al c o nfr o nt ati o n tr ai ni n g e v e nt, c o v eri n g s e v er al t h o us a n d kil o m et ers a n d l asti n g i n e xc ess of t hr e e h o urs, a n d 1 3

29 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S f or a m o d el of J- 8 t h at h a d o nl y rec e ntl y b e e n all oc at e d t o a N a v al Avi ati o n u nit. 4 3 T h e aircr aft w er e s u p p ort e d b y a eri al t a n k ers a n d A E W aircr aft. J- 1 0 Tr a nsiti o n Tr ai ni n g I n J ul y , a n E S F r e gi m e nt r ec ei v e d N a v al Avi ati o n s first J- 1 0 fi g ht ers. 4 4 As s uc h, t h e e ntire re gi m e nt h a d t o st art fr o m scr atc h t o l e ar n h o w t o b est us e t h e aircr aft. To b e gi n wit h, t h e re gi m e nt creat e d a c o m b at m et h o ds tr ai ni n g res e arc h s m all gr o u p a n d s yst e m atic all y us e d vi d e o s yst e ms a n d t h e fli g ht- p ar a m et er rec or di n g s yst e m ( 飞参 ) t o or g a ni z e e v er y fl yi n g s essi o n. B y t h e e n d of , t h e re gi m e nt als o r e vis e d o v er 2 0 tr ai ni n g re g ul ati o ns, i ncl u di n g t h e Fli g ht Tr ai ni n g O utli n e a n d H a n d b o o k f or H a n dli n g S p eci al Sit u ati o ns. C o nc er ni n g l e ar ni n g n e w c o nc e pts, t h e pil ots h a d t o c h a n g e fr o m l o w eri n g t h eir h e a ds t o s e e t h e i nstr u m e nts i n or d er t o s e e t h e i nstr u m e nts refl ect e d o n t h e h e a d- u p dis pl a y i n fr o nt of t h e m. T h e first act u al fli g hts di d n ot occ ur u ntil e arl y , a n d t h e y w ere c h all e n g e d b y s n o w a n d s af et y iss u es, i ncl u di n g d e ali n g wit h a n aircr aft t h at h as o nl y o n e e n gi n e a n d t h at oft e n h as pr o bl e ms, s uc h as st alli n g i n mi d air. Aft er b ec o mi n g f a mili ar wit h t h e aircr aft, t h e re gi m e nt b e g a n c o n d ucti n g l o w a n d v er y-l o w altit u d e d ef e ns e p e n etr ati o n tr ai ni n g b y t w o aircr aft wit h o nl y o n e m et er of s p ac e b et w e e n t h e aircr aft. I n S e pt e m b er , t h e re gi m e nt c o n d uct e d its first li v e- missil e l a u nc h tr ai ni n g a g ai nst t ar g et missil es at a c ert ai n m ariti m e ar e a of t h e E ast C hi n a S e a. B y t h e e n d of , t h e re gi m e nt h a d rec ei v e d all of its J- 1 0s a n d w as f ull y pre p are d t o c o n d uct c o m b at o p er ati o ns, w hic h re p ort e dl y s et a r ec or d f or t h e s h ort est ti m e t o f ull y tr a nsiti o n t o t h e aircr aft, t o i ncl u d e h a vi n g a f ull y q u alifi e d c o m m a n d er, s e v er al d e p ut y c o m m a n d ers, fli g ht i nstr uct ors, a n d l e a d pil ots, as w ell as st aff offic ers i n t h e v ari o us f u ncti o n al a n d a d mi nistr ati v e d e p art m e nts. D uri n g a n e x ercis e i n l at e , pil ots rec ei v e d a c o m b at or d er, t o o k off, c o v ertl y p e n etr at e d i nt o t h e airs p ac e a b o v e t h e e x ercis e s e a area, o v er 1, kil o m et ers a w a y, circl e d a b o v e t h e ar e a, d o v e a n d 1 4

30 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) t h e n cli m b e d t o a hi g h er altit u d e, l oc k e d o n t h e t ar g et, a n d fir e d f o ur air-t o- air g ui d e d missil es. All of t h e missil es hit t h eir t ar g ets. N a v al A vi ati o n S u- 3 0 M K 2 Bl ue Force Fe n d ui N a v al Avi ati o n c o n d ucts t hr e e diff er e nt t y p es of R e d vs Bl u e tr ai ni n g, w hic h c a n i ncl u d e si mil ar or dissi mil ar aircr aft c o m b at tr ai ni n g d uri n g diff er e nt p eri o ds of t h e d a y. First, N a v al Avi ati o n h as a d e dic at e d S u- 3 0 M K 2 Bl u e F orc e fe n d ui, t o b e disc uss e d b el o w, w hic h s u p p os e dl y fli es r e alistic c o pi es of f or ei g n t actics. S ec o n d, a r e gi m e nt i n a p artic ul ar di visi o n will c o n d uct R e d vs Bl u e tr ai ni n g wit h aircr aft i n its o w n r e gi m e nt. T hir d, a r e gi m e nt will c o n d uct R e d vs Bl u e tr ai ni n g a g ai nst eit h er si mil ar or dissi mil ar aircr aft fr o m a n ot h er r e gi m e nt i n t h e s a m e di visi o n or a diff ere nt di visi o n. T h e Bl u e f orc e i n b ot h of t h es e c as es is i d e ntifi e d as s uc h i n n a m e o nl y a n d f or t h e m ost p art d o es n ot us e f orei g n t actics. T h e f oll o wi n g a n al ysis will f oc us o n t h e N a v al Avi ati o n s d e dic at e d bl u e f orc e, c o m p os e d of S u- 3 0 M K 2 fi g ht ers. I n , t h e E S F s 4t h Air Di visi o n s 1 0t h Air R e gi m e nt, w hic h is als o k n o w n as t h e N a v al Avi ati o n H er oic E a gl e R e gi m e nt ( 海军雄鹰团 ), rec ei v e d or d ers t o creat e N a v al Avi ati o n s first Bl u e F orc e fli g ht gr o u p a n d e q ui p p e d it wit h t h e R ussi a n- b uilt t w o-s e at S u- 3 0 M K 2 all- w e at h er, l o n g-r a n g e stri k e fi g ht ers, s h o w n b el o w. 4 5 Fi g u r e 2: N a v al A vi ati o n s Fi r st Bl u e F o r c e Fli g ht G r o u p S o urc e: htt p:// y 1.if e n gi m g.c o m/ b e b 1 d 5 9 8/ / /r d n _ 5 0 9f 3f d a e 0.j p g 1 5

31 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S T h e i niti al pil ots e ac h h a d m ore t h a n 1, h o urs of fli g ht ti m e, i ncl u di n g a p pr o xi m at el y h o urs as a st u d e nt pil ot at a fli g ht c oll e g e. T h e i m m e di at e c h all e n g e w as t o b e a bl e t o c oll ect, or g a ni z e, a n d a n al y z e i nf or m ati o n o n t h e e n e m y s sit u ati o n. At t h at ti m e, t h ere w as n o e xisti n g i nf or m ati o n o n f orei g n milit ari es a v ail a bl e. U nl ess t h e y c o ul d g et cl e ar d at a, t h er e c o ul d b e n o r e alistic i mit ati o n t o s p e a k of. T h e y c o n d uct e d res e arc h o n f or ei g n air f orc es a n d cr e at e d w h at t h e y c o nsi d ere d a realistic c o p y of t h eir t actics, w hic h i ncl u d e d b ei n g a bl e t o r esist i n a c o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nt, a n d t o b e a bl e t o t a k e off a n d l a n d u n d er m ar gi n al w e at h er c o n diti o ns. F or b asic tr ai ni n g t o pics, s uc h as si n gl e aircr aft a n d f or m ati o n off e nsi v e a n d d ef e nsi v e t actic al m a n e u v ers, t h er e w er e s e v er al t e ns of s ets of m a n e u v ers. F urt h er, al m ost all of t h e m a n e u v ers w ere c o n d uct e d u n d er c o n diti o ns t h at p us h e d t h e b o d y t o its li mits. T h e m ost diffic ult t o pic i n t h e Bl u e F orc e pr o gr a m w as a c o m bi n ati o n of s e v er al t actic al m a n e u v ers. T h e pr o gr a m s p ecifi es t h at 1) e ac h pil ot is t o p erf or m t his t o pic, 2) t h at e ac h ti m e it is p erf or m e d, t h e pil ot is n ot t o e xc e e d t w o s orti es, 3) t h at e ac h s orti e is n ot t o e xc e e d a n h o ur a n d a h alf, a n d 4) t h at t h er e m ust b e at l e ast a n h o ur a n d a h alf of rest b et w e e n t h e m. T h e fli g ht gr o u p us es u p t wic e t h e a m o u nt of a vi ati o n f u el d uri n g a gi v e n p eri o d as t h at us e d b y a n or di n ar y u nit. Pre vi o usl y, w h e n a pil ot p ull e d a l o a d of t hree Gs, it w as c o nsi d ere d hi g h. 4 6 N o w, t h e y r e g ul arl y p ull s e v e n or ei g ht Gs, w hic h ar e r e ac h e d i nst a nt a n e o usl y. W hil e t h e ol d air pl a n es c o ul d e n d ure s uc h sit u ati o ns f or s e v er al s ec o n ds, t h e n e w j ets re m ai n c o nti n u o usl y i n t his st at e f or 1 0 t o 2 0 s ec o n ds. T h e gr o u p h as s p ecifi e d t h at e ac h pil ot m ust b ec o m e a n e x p ert i n s o m e area, st u d y a s et of c o m b at t ec h ni q u es, a n d re g ul arl y e n g a g e i n R e d a n d Bl u e k n o wl e d g e c o nfr o nt ati o n i n t h e gr o u p. T hr o u g h c oll ecti v e st u d y i n w hic h e ac h p ers o n pre p ares a t o pic a n d s p e a ks o n a m a n e u v er a n d a diffic ult p oi nt, t h e y m ut u all y e x a mi n e t h e oretic al w e a k n ess es. I n J ul y , t h e P L A N or g a ni z e d t h e first act u al-c o m b at c o nfr o nt ati o n b et w e e n diff ere nt t y p es of fi g ht ers, w h at t h e 1 6

32 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) U. S. Air F orc e a n d N a v y c all Dissi mil ar Air C o m b at Tr ai ni n g ( D A C T), i ncl u di n g t h e Bl u e F orc e fli g ht gr o u p, w hic h dir ect e d t h e c o nfr o nt ati o n tr ai ni n g. B ec a us e t h e br ot h er u nits w er e e q ui p p e d wit h s ec o n d- g e n er ati o n fi g ht ers ( e. g., J- 7s a n d J- 8s), t h e diff ere nc e i n fi g ht er g e n er ati o ns d e pri v e d t h e br ot h er u nits of c o nfi d e nc e. T h e m e m b ers of t h e Bl u e F orc e fli g ht gr o u p acti v el y e x pl ai n e d t o t h e m t h e p erf or m a nc e of t h e t hir d- g e n er ati o n fi g ht ers ( e. g., J- 1 0s a n d J- 1 1s) wit h w hic h t h e y w er e e q ui p p e d, t h eir fi g hti n g t ec h ni q u es, a n d t h eir o p er ati o n. Fli g ht C o m m a n der G ui d a nce Fi g ht ers oft e n rec ei v e d et ail e d g ui d a nc e fr o m t h e fli g ht c o m m a n d er i n t h e t o w er, w h o is n or m all y t h e re gi m e nt c o m m a n d er or o n e of t h e d e p ut y c o m m a n d ers. 4 7 F or e x a m pl e, i n J ul y , fi g ht ers i n a n E S F re gi m e nt c o n d uct e d a li v e-fire tr ai ni n g e x ercis e a g ai nst a n i nc o mi n g missil e i n a c o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nt o v er t h e E ast C hi n a S e a. T h e c o m m a n d er of t h e 4 4t h Air Di visi o n, w h o w as s er vi n g as t h e fli g ht c o m m a n d er i n t h e t o w er, g ui d e d a t w o- s hi p f or m ati o n fl o w n b y t w o d e p ut y fli g ht gr o u p c o m m a n d ers. T h e di visi o n s p olitic al c o m miss ar w as als o i n t h e t o w er t o o bs er v e t h e tr ai ni n g. O nc e t h e aircr aft t o o k off, t h e t o w er c o m m a n d er g ui d e d t h e m i n a ti g ht f or m ati o n, acc or di n g t o a pre-l a u nc h pl a n. I n or d er t o c o nc e al t h e ms el v es, t h e y di d n ot t ur n o n t h eir r a d ar u ntil t h e y e nt ere d t h eir att ac k v ect or a n d w er e t ol d t o d o s o i n or d er t o s e arc h f or t h e i nc o mi n g missil e. Aft er t h e l e a d pil ot r e p ort e d t h at t h e t ar g et h a d b e e n d et ect e d, t h e t o w er c o m m a n d er q uic kl y or d ere d t h e l e a d pil ot t o m ai nt ai n his st at us a n d t o s e arc h f or t h e o pti m u m l a u nc h o p p ort u nit y. S h ortl y t h ereaft er, t h e t w o aircr aft rec ei v e d j a m mi n g, w hic h alt ere d t h eir att ac k pl a n. At t h at ti m e, t h e t o w er c o m m a n d er or d ere d t h e m t o c h a n g e t h eir att ac k m et h o d a n d f or t h e wi n g m a n t o p e el off, i m pl e m e nt vis u al att ac k m o d e, a n d fl y t o w ar ds t h e t ar g et fr o m a n ot h er dir ecti o n. M e a n w hil e, t h e l e a d pil ot m ai nt ai n e d his fli g ht st at us, us e d his o n b o ar d r a d ar a n d its j a m mi n g att ac k m o d e i n or d er t o c o n d uct c o u nt er-j a m mi n g a g ai nst t h e j a m mi n g s o urc e. 1 7

33 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S S h ortl y t h ereaft er, t h e l e a d pil ot l oc k e d o nt o t h e t ar g et a n d fir e d his missil e, w hic h d estr o ye d t h e i nc o mi n g missil e. As n ot e d i n t h e p a p er, t h e P L A A F b e g a n s hifti n g fli g ht c o m m a n d ers i n s o m e, b ut n ot all, c o ntr ol t o w ers fr o m t h e t o p of t h e t o w er t o t h e c o m m a n d p ost i n t h e b ott o m of t h e t o w er. As of e arl y , t h ere are still n o si g ns t h at N a v al Avi ati o n h as b e g u n t his pr oc ess. Alt h o u g h it is n ot cl e ar w h y N a v al Avi ati o n h as n ot i m pl e m e nt e d t his pr oc ess, o n e p ossi bl e reas o n is b ec a us e t h e P L A A F is m ost li k el y usi n g m or e KJ , KJ , a n d KJ A E W aircr aft t o c o m m u nic at e dir ectl y wit h its aircr aft i n t h e air, w hil e N a v al Avi ati o n h as o nl y li mit e d A E W aircr aft. I nterce pt Tr ai ni n g N a v al Avi ati o n aircr aft h a v e b e e n tr ai ni n g t o i nt erc e pt n ot o nl y aircr aft b ut als o i nc o mi n g missil es. T h e f oll o wi n g p ar a gr a p hs pr o vi d e s o m e e x a m pl es of e ac h t y p e of tr ai ni n g: O n 3 1 J a n u ar y , a n E S F r e gi m e nt r ec ei v e d or d ers t o scr a m bl e t w o aircr aft t o i nt erc e pt a n u ni d e ntifi e d aircr aft. T h e o n- d ut y r o o m i m m e di at el y w e nt t o al ert l e v el 1 ( 一等 ), a n d f o ur pil ots, i ncl u di n g a fli g ht gr o u p c o m m a n d er, i m m e di at el y t o o k off aft er r ec ei vi n g t h e or d er fr o m t h e fli g ht c o m m a n d er i n t h e c o ntr ol t o w er. 4 8 As t h e aircr aft h e a d e d t o w ar d t h e t ar g et, t h e fli g ht c o m m a n d er c o nti n u e d t o v er b all y pr o vi d e t h e m wit h v ect or i nf or m ati o n. At , t h e aircr aft h a d s ucc essf ull y acc o m plis h e d t h e t as k a n d arri v e d h o m e. D uri n g , t h e Bl u e F orc e fli g ht gr o u p a n d a n E S F re gi m e nt c o n d uct e d s e v er al o p p ositi o n-f orc e tr ai ni n g e v e nts t o g et h er t h at f oc us e d o n u nscri pt e d sc e n ari os. 4 9 I n s o m e c as es, t h e c o nfr o nt ati o ns l ast e d s o l o n g a n d o v er s uc h a l o n g dist a nc e ( o v er kil o m et ers) t h at t h e aircr aft b arel y h a d e n o u g h f u el t o r et ur n h o m e. R at h er t h a n h a vi n g t h e R e d a n d Bl u e c o m m a n d p osts c o-l oc at e d, s o m e of t h e tr ai ni n g e v e nts h a d t h e m l oc at e d at diff ere nt b as es wit h o ut m ut u al k n o wl e d g e of t h e ot h er s p ositi o n, a n d o p er ati o n al pl a ns a n d i nstr ucti o ns w ere d e vis e d a n d s e nt d o w n o n t h e s p ot. I n a d diti o n, d uri n g o n e ni g htti m e l o n g-r a n g e r ai d, t h e R e d F orc e aircr aft w ere 1 8

34 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) o nl y i nf or m e d u p o n t a k e off t h at t h e y w o ul d b e l a n di n g s o m e pl ac e els e a gr e at dist a nc e a w a y a n d w o ul d b e i n v ol v e d i n r ai ds a n d c o nfr o nt ati o n al o n g t h e e ntire r o ut e. D uri n g o n e c o nfr o nt ati o n, t h e l e a d pil ot s u d d e nl y reali z e d t h at his wi n g m a n h a d b e e n c all e d b ac k b y t h e fli g ht c o m m a n d er i n t h e t o w er. 5 0 As a res ult, i nst e a d of e n g a gi n g 2 v 2, it w as n o w a 1 v 2 sit u ati o n, a n d h e l ost t h e b attl e. T h e u nit us e d t his o p p ort u nit y t o e m p h asi z e t h at t his c o ul d e asil y b ec o m e a realit y d uri n g act u al c o m b at, a n d t h at t h e u nits m ust pr e p ar e f or t his sit u ati o n. To pr e p ar e f or t his sit u ati o n, t h e u nits b e g a n c o n d ucti n g m ore free air c o m b at tr ai ni n g. As a res ult, d uri n g a si mil ar sit u ati o n i n mi d , t h e u nit h el d 1 v 2 c o nfr o nt ati o n tr ai ni n g. Aft er t h e c o m b at aircr aft of t h e t w o si d es t o o k t o t h e air, t h e Bl u e F orc e pil ots r eli e d o n t h eir r a d ar s u p eri oriti es t o g et t h e first r a d ar l oc k- o n. T h e R e d F orc e pil ots d e alt wit h t h e c h a n gi n g sit u ati o n a n d r el e as e d i nt erf er e nc e t o s h a k e off t h e r a d ar l oc k a n d, at t h e s a m e ti m e, r us h at t h e o p p o n e nt s l e a di n g aircr aft at a n e xtre m e a n gl e a n d fir e missil es. Aft er t h e o p p o n e nt h a d b e e n s h ot d o w n, t h e y i m m e di at el y re d uc e d altit u d e a n d f or m e d a cl os e-r a n g e air c o m b at p ost ure wit h t h e o p p o n e nt s wi n g m a n. D uri n g yet a n ot h er tr ai ni n g e v e nt, t h e visi bilit y at a c ert ai n airfi el d al o n g t h e c o ast i n e ast er n Z h eji a n g Pr o vi nc e w as f ar l o w er t h a n c o m b at aircr aft t a k e off re q uire m e nts. 5 1 T h e c o m m a n d p ost, h o w e v er, or d ere d t h e fi g ht ers t o t a k e off ur g e ntl y, a n d t h e pil ots r el uct a ntl y fl e w t h eir aircr aft i nt o t h e s ki es. W h e n t w o aircr aft t o o k off t o g et h er, t h e wi n g m a n w as o nl y a bl e t o b ar el y s e e t h e e x h a ust pl u m e of t h e l e a d pl a n e. D uri n g t h eir ret ur n t o b as e, as s o o n as t h e aircr aft cr oss e d t h e c o astli n e, t h e y e nt er e d t h e cl o u ds a n d t h e pil ots w ere u n a bl e t o s e e a n y l a n d m ar ks, s o t h e y r eli e d o n i nstr ucti o ns fr o m t h e i nstr u m e nts i n t h e c oc k pit t o s ucc essf ull y i m pl e m e nt a bli n d l a n di n g. Fi n all y, s e v er al fi g ht ers w ere scr a m bl e d i n or d er t o s h o ot d o w n a n i nc o mi n g missil e. 5 2 U p o n d e p arti n g, b as e d o n pre vi o us tr ai ni n g, t h e pil ots alrea d y h a d a pl a n i n mi n d a n d k n e w t h e r o ut e of t h e 1 9

35 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S i nc o mi n g missil e b y h e art. Alt h o u g h t h eir r a d ars sc a n n e d, t h e i m a g e of t h e i nc o mi n g missil e w as f u z z y a n d it w as h ar d t o g et a l oc k. S u d d e nl y, t h e e n e m y missil e c h a n g e d its directi o n a n d t h e aircr aft f ail e d t o i nt erc e pt it. Alt h o u g h t h e pil ots f elt t h at t h e r ul es h a d c h a n g e d, t h e l ess o n w as t h at t h e y h a d t o m o v e a w a y fr o m scri pt e d c o nc e pts t o res p o n di n g t o u nscri pt e d sit u ati o ns. As a r es ult, t h e y b e g a n tr ai ni n g wit h o ut prec o nc ei v e d i d e as a b o ut w h at w as g oi n g t o h a p p e n. O n 2 7 Oct o b er , N a v al Avi ati o n c o m pl et e d its first- e v er fi g ht er aircr aft free air c o m b at c o nfr o nt ati o n al drill u n d er u nscri pt e d c o n diti o ns f or res e arc h p ur p os es t h at i n v ol v e d all t hree fl e ets a n d f o ur aircr aft m o d els o v er s e v er al d a ys. 5 3 It w as als o t h e first ti m e e v er f or N a v al Avi ati o n t o s et u p a n air b or n e c o m m a n d p ost o n b o ar d a n A E W aircr aft t o g ui d e att ac k missi o ns. Acc or di n g t o a n offic er-i n-c h ar g e, t his drill w as m e a nt t o i d e ntif y pr o bl e ms a n d d efici e nci es li n k e d wit h act u al-c o m b at re q uir e m e nts; t o f urt h er t est, v erif y, a n d i m pr o v e c o m b at a n d tr ai ni n g m et h o ds; a n d t o e x pl ore w a ys t o e n h a nc e t h e n a v al a vi ati o n f orc e s c o m b at stre n gt h. T hr o u g h o ut t h e res e arc h tr ai ni n g pr oc ess, p artici p a nts i n t h e drill w ere gi v e n t ot al free d o m t o c h o os e air b attl e m a n e u v eri n g acti o ns, t h er e w as n o c o nfr o nt ati o n al drill sc h e m e d esi g n at e d i n a d v a nc e, t h er e w as n o sti p ul ati o n t o d esi g n at e t h e dir ecti o n of a p pr o ac h, a n d t h er e w as n o d efi nit e ti mi n g t o l a u nc h att ac ks. T h e p artici p ati n g u nits w ere t o st a g e el ectr o nic j a m mi n g a n d p erf or m b ac k-t o- b ac k act u al c o nfr o nt ati o n al drills t hr o u g h o ut t h e pr oc ess i n acc or d a nc e wit h t h e t actic al r e q uire m e nts. All of t h e i nf or m ati o n w as dis pl a ye d o n t h e air b attl e sit u ati o n al m a p i n t h e c o m m a n d p ost, i ncl u di n g b e y o n d- vis u al-r a n g e ( B V R) att ac ks, m e di u m-r a n g e i nt erc e pti o ns, a n d cl os e- q u art ers d o gfi g ht. C o nc er ni n g t h e pil ots, t h e y w ere o nl y t ol d a b o ut t h e l oc ati o n of t h e air s p ac e d esi g n at e d f or t h e air b attl e drill, b ut w er e n eit h er i nf or m e d of t h eir a d v ers ar y s w h er e a b o uts n or w h at o p er ati o n al m et h o ds w o ul d b e a d o pt e d b y t h eir a d v ers ar y. I n s o m e c as es, t h e y h a d a p p ar e ntl y l oc k e d o nt o a t ar g et alr e a d y a n d w ere r e a d y t o l a u nc h a missil e, b ut v er y s o o n aft er w ar d t h e a d v ers ar y 2 0

36 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) m a n a g e d t o esc a p e. As a res ult, t h e y s u d d e nl y h a d t o s witc h fr o m off e ns e t o d ef e ns e. A nti-s hi p Tr ai ni n g a n d Diff ic ult We at her C o n diti o ns I n a d diti o n t o i nt erc e pti n g aircr aft a n d missil es, N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht ers als o tr ai n t o stri k e e n e m y v ess els i n diff er e nt w e at h er c o n diti o ns as disc uss e d b el o w. D uri n g Oct o b er , t w o n e w-t y p e aircr aft fr o m a n N S F re gi m e nt c o n d uct e d tr ai ni n g o v er t h e B o h ai S e a a g ai nst a n e n e m y v ess el. 5 4 As t h e y a p pr o ac h e d t h e t ar g et, t h e y w er e fl yi n g f ast a n d at v er y-l o w altit u d e w hil e brea ki n g t hr o u g h a n el ectr o m a g n etic n et w or k. B ot h pil ots q uic kl y cli m b e d a n d br o k e a w a y fr o m e ac h ot h er, s o t h at t h e y c o ul d att ac k i n a pi nc er f or m ati o n b y l a u nc hi n g t w o missil es e ac h fr o m diff ere nt directi o ns. T his tr ai ni n g w as o nl y m a d e p ossi bl e b ec a us e t h e re gi m e nt m a d e s o m e dr a m atic c h a n g es t o its tr ai ni n g m et h o ds o v er t h e pr e vi o us ye ar. S p ecific all y, w h e n t h e u nit first rec ei v e d t h e n e w t y p e of aircr aft, o n e pil ot w as t as k e d t o c o n d uct a t est fli g ht at v er y-l o w altit u d e at ni g ht o v er a n u nf a mili ar s e a ar e a f or 2 0 mi n ut es. H o w e v er, b ec a us e t h e w e at h er o v er t h e s e a c h a n g e d a br u ptl y t h at d a y, t h e pil ot di d n ot c o m pl et e t h e fli g ht o ut of c o nsi d er ati o n f or s af et y. B as e d o n si mil ar e v e nts, t h e r e gi m e nt s effici e nc y r at e i n li v e-fir e s u bj ect tr ai ni n g i n c o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nts w as o nl y 5 8 p erc e nt. T h er ef or e, t h e re gi m e nt creat e d a C o m b at M et h o ds T h e or y R es e arc h S m all Gr o u p, w hic h l e d res e arc h o n h o w b est t o c h a n g e t h e w a y it c o n d uct e d its tr ai ni n g f or c o m b at m et h o ds a n d t actics. As a res ult, t h e re gi m e nt i m pl e m e nt e d s e v er al n e w tr ai ni n g m et h o ds, i ncl u di n g i nst alli n g bl ac k o ut scree ns i n t h e c oc k pits t o bl oc k 7 5 p erc e nt of t h e a vi at ors fi el d of visi o n d uri n g fli g ht tr ai ni n g i n n or m al w e at h er c o n diti o ns, t h ere b y artifici all y cr e ati n g a d v ers e w e at h er c o n diti o ns. T his all o w e d t h e re gi m e nt t o u p d at e its tr ai ni n g or g a ni z ati o n m o d el, w h ere b y t h e c o m m a n d er is n o w a bl e t o a dj ust fli g ht pl a ns b as e d o n c h a n g es i n t h e w e at h er. I n a d diti o n, a vi at ors are c at e g ori z e d i nt o t hree l e v els t h e n e w 2 1

37 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S a vi at or l e v el, e n h a nc e m e nt l e v el, a n d act u al-c o m b at l e v el a n d fli g ht pl a ns are a dj ust e d f or e ac h l e v el. I n a d diti o n, t h e re gi m e nt b e g a n re or g a ni zi n g w hic h tr ai ni n g s u bj ects s h o ul d b e c o m bi n e d d uri n g t h e s a m e s orti e. F or e x a m pl e, f or a vi at ors w h o h a v e c o m pl et e d t h eir f o u n d ati o n al t actic al tr ai ni n g, t h eir fli g ht tr ai ni n g is or g a ni z e d i n st a g es b as e d o n t h eir act u al t ec h nic al a n d t actic al l e v el. I nt e gr at e d t o pic tr ai ni n g i n v ol vi n g m ulti pl e tr ai ni n g s u bj ects h as r e pl ac e d si m pl e tr ai ni n g i n v ol vi n g o nl y o n e tr ai ni n g s u bj ect. T h e re gi m e nt h as als o c o m bi n e d i nt erc e pt tr ai ni n g b y i ncreasi n g t h e diff er e nc e i n altit u d e a n d hi g h er s p e e ds b y t w o- a n d f o urs hi p t actic al f or m ati o ns c o or di n ati o n f or i nt e gr at e d off e nsi v e a n d d ef e nsi v e m a n e u v ers. T h e re gi m e nt h as als o st e p p e d u p its res e arc h eff ort i n t actics u n d er i nf or m ati z e d c o n diti o ns. S p ecific all y, it h as i ncreas e d its reli a nc e o n o m ni directi o n al r a d ar w ar ni n g d e vic es a n d d at ali n k i nf or m ati o n t o d et er mi n e t ar g et l oc ati o ns a n d t o d e v el o p t actics t o e v a d e a n d s h a k e off t ar g ets a n d g o t o att ac k l oc ati o ns. T h e re gi m e nt st e p p e d u p r es e arc h of t actics f or c o m bi ni n g m ai n a n d f ei nt att ac ks, a n d fl e xi bl e m o v es i n att ac ki n g t ar g ets at s e a a n d o n l a n d w h e n n o c o v er is a v ail a bl e. Alt o g et h er it h as cr e at e d m or e t h a n 2 0 t actics f or p e n etr ati n g d ef e ns es a n d att ac ki n g t ar g ets at s e a i n c o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nts. T h e r e gi m e nt h as als o c o nti n u all y st e p p e d u p tr ai ni n g i n h o w t o h a n dl e u n us u al air sit u ati o ns, s uc h as w a ys t o tr ac k s m all a n d f ast m o vi n g t ar g ets. It h as w or k e d o ut a m et h o d f or c o nti n ui n g a eri al e n g a g e m e nts o n e aft er a n ot h er, as w ell as c o n d ucti n g f oc us e d tr ai ni n g i n p atr olli n g vi gil a nc e, t ar g et i n v esti g ati o n a n d v erific ati o n, tr ac ki n g a n d s ur v eill a nc e, a n d w ar ni n g. Stri ki n g L a n d Tar gets Fi n all y, N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht ers, as w ell as b o m b ers a n d fi g ht erb o m b ers, als o tr ai n t o stri k e l a n d t ar g ets as disc uss e d b el o w. O n S at ur d a y, 7 A pril , f oll o wi n g a n or d er fr o m t h e di visi o n c o m m a n d er, s e v er al fi g ht ers fr o m a n N S F di visi o n c arri e d o ut a cr oss-s e a ar e a, l o n g- dist a nc e r ai d o v er t h e B o h ai S e a, w h ere t h e y 2 2

38 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) c o n d uct e d si m ul at e d precisi o n stri k es a g ai nst diff er e nt t y p es of e n e m y l a n d t ar g ets. 5 5 T h e g o al w as t o b e a bl e t o ac hi e v e m ulti pl e l ar g e- gr o u p, h e a v y-l o a d, l o n g- d ur ati o n, v er y-l o w altit u d e, dist a nts e a ass a ults d uri n g a n y ti m e of t h e d a y a n d i n all t y p es of w e at h er c o n diti o ns. To ac hi e v e t his, t h e di visi o n s p e nt t w o ye ars b uil di n g u p its c a p a biliti es st e p b y st e p, i ncl u di n g cr e ati n g a M ariti m e Tr ai ni n g R es e arc h S m all Gr o u p. E ac h ye ar, t h e di visi o n r e q uir es all pil ots t o c o m pl et e s e a tr ai ni n g t o pics of a c ert ai n l e n gt h a n d c o nt e nt, wit h a f oc us o n n ot o nl y t ec h nic al a n d t actic al tr ai ni n g b ut als o o n ps yc h ol o gic al tr ai ni n g. It h as all o w e d t actic al tr ai ni n g t o b e g ui d e d b y t h e missi o n a n d t as ks. As s uc h, it h as est a blis h e d o bj ecti v es, f or m ul at e d tr ai ni n g pl a ns, a n d s et strict r e q uir e m e nts r e g ar di n g w h at t o tr ai n, h o w t o tr ai n, a n d h o w m uc h t o tr ai n. It us e d t h e tr ai ni n g m et h o d of first e as y o bj ecti v es, t h e n diffic ult o bj ecti v es; first n e ar s e as, t h e n dist a nt s e as; a n d first a d a pti v e tr ai ni n g, t h e n act u al-c o m b at tr ai ni n g. T h e u nit gr a d u all y e xt e n d e d m ariti m e fli g ht ti m e a n d c o n d uct e d dist a nt s e as s ur pris e att ac k tr ai ni n g. T his n ot o nl y tr ai n e d u p t h e u nit b ut als o el e v at e d its m ariti m e o p er ati o n al a bilit y. T his s eri es of m e as ur es eff ecti v el y pr o m ot e d m ariti m e tr ai ni n g, e ns uri n g t h at t h e u nit s c o m b at p o w er st e a dil y i ncreas e d, as w ell as g u ar a nt e ei n g s af et y. S u m m ar y T his s ecti o n a d dress e d t h e br o a d r es p o nsi biliti es f or N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht ers, i ncl u di n g n ot o nl y air-t o- air i nt erc e pts at all ti m es of d a y a n d ni g ht a n d i n diff ere nt w e at h er c o n diti o ns b ut als o stri k es a g ai nst v ess els a n d l a n d t ar g ets at dist a nc es f art h er a n d f art h er fr o m t h eir l a n d b as es. All of t his tr ai ni n g w as c o n d uct e d o v er w at er. B as e d o n t h e r e p orti n g fr o m Re n mi n H aij u n, N a v al Avi ati o n is b ec o mi n g m or e a d e pt at acc o m plis hi n g t h es e t as ks; h o w e v er, t h ere is littl e re p orti n g a b o ut sit u ati o ns w h ere t h e aircr aft w ere n ot a bl e t o acc o m plis h t h eir missi o ns. 2 3

39 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S N a v al A vi ati o n Fi g ht er- b o m b er Tr ai ni n g T his s ecti o n pr o vi d es i nf or m ati o n a b o ut N a v al Avi ati o n s fi g ht erb o m b er ( att ac k) aircr aft, w hic h c o nsists pri m aril y of t h e J H- 7 Fl yi n g L e o p ar d ( 飞豹 ) s h o w n b el o w. Fi g u r e 3: J H- 7 Fl yi n g L e o p a r d S o urc e: htt p:// w w w. a er ofli g ht.c o. u k/ w p-c o nt e nt/ u pl o a ds/ / 0 2/ j p g E ac h of t h e t hree fl e ets h as a J H- 7 u nit, w h o c o n d uct si mil ar tr ai ni n g d uri n g diff ere nt ti m es of t h e ye ar a n d s e as o n al c o n diti o ns. T h e aircr aft s pri m ar y t as ks i ncl u d e air-t o- air e n g a g e m e nts, air-t o- s hi p missil e a n d b o m b stri k es, l a yi n g a nti-s u b m ari n e a n d a nti-s hi p mi n es, a n d air-t o-s urf ac e missil e a n d b o m b stri k es a g ai nst v ari o us l a n d- b as e d t ar g ets, i ncl u di n g p orts. To acc o m plis h t h es e t as ks, t h e aircr aft c o n d uct d a y a n d ni g ht, all- w e at h er, o v er- w at er, l o n g- dist a nc e, a n d v er y-l o w a n d l o w altit u d e fli g hts u n d er r a di o sil e nc e a n d i n a n u nscri pt e d, c o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nt u n d er g ui d a nc e fr o m a n air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g aircr aft usi n g d at a li n ks. T h e y ar e als o s o m eti m es s u p p ort e d b y fi g ht er aircr aft esc orts i n t h e s a m e area, a n d oft e nti m es fl y o ut of u nf a mili ar airfi el ds ot h er t h a n t h eir h o m e b as e, i ncl u di n g P L A A F airfi el ds e q ui p p e d wit h t h e s a m e aircr aft. D uri n g e ac h e v e nt disc uss e d b el o w, t h e f or m ati o n s l e a d 2 4

40 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) aircr aft s r e ar-s e at n a vi g at or pr o vi d es i nf or m ati o n c o nc er ni n g t h e r o ut e a n d t ar g et area, w hil e t h e l e a d pil ot, w h o is i d e ntifi e d as t h e air b or n e c o m m a n d er, iss u es t h e or d er t o dr o p t h e mi n es, l a u nc h t h e missil es, or fire t h e g u ns. I n a d diti o n, o n e articl e a b o ut a n S S F r e gi m e nt n ot e d t h at, t o pr ot ect e q ui p m e nt pri or t o rec ei vi n g t h e n e w J H- 7s, t h e re gi m e nt s aircr aft w er e n ot all o w e d t o t a k e off w h e n it w as r ai ni n g a n d o n pitc h- d ar k ni g hts. 5 6 All of t h os e restricti o ns c h a n g e d, h o w e v er, w h e n t h e re gi m e nt rec ei v e d t h e J H- 7, s uc h t h at t h e r e gi m e nt n o w c o n d ucts tr ai ni n g at ni n e diff ere nt airfi el ds d uri n g d a y a n d ni g ht i n all t y p es of w e at h er c o n diti o ns, i ncl u di n g r ai n a n d f o g. Fr o m A pril , a n N S F J H- 7 u nit c o n d uct e d a n e x ercis e f or t h e first ti m e t h at i ncl u d e d l a n di n g at P L A A F airfi el ds. 5 7 Alt o g et h er, m ore t h a n t e n aircr aft ( e. g., pr o b a bl y t w o fli g ht gr o u ps, e ac h wit h t w o fli g ht s q u a dr o ns) fl e w m ore t h a n 2, kil o m et ers, us e d t w o P L A A F airfi el ds, a n d c o n d uct e d si m ul at e d b o m bi n g stri k es a g ai nst t hree p orts a n d t hree i m p ort a nt o ns h or e t ar g ets distri b ut e d acr oss t hree pr o vi nc es, all wit hi n a b o ut si x h o urs of ti m e. As ni g ht f ell, t h e aircr aft d e p art e d t h eir h o m e b as e i n at l e ast t w o f or m ati o ns u n d er r a di o sil e nc e a n d si m ul at e d dr o p pi n g t h eir first b o m bs 2 0 mi n ut es l at er at l o w altit u d e at a p ort. At h o urs, t h e aircr aft l a n d e d at a S h e n y a n g Milit ar y R e gi o n Air F orc e ( M R A F) b as e, w h ere t h e P L A A F p ers o n n el c o n d uct e d a n i ns p ecti o n a n d m ai nt e n a nc e t as ks, as w ell as ref u el e d t h e aircr aft. At h o urs, t h e y t o o k off a g ai n a n d c o n d uct e d t h eir s ec o n d b o m b stri k e a n h o ur l at er at a p ort. T h e y t h e n l a n d e d at a Ji n a n M R A F b as e f or yet a n ot h er i ns p ecti o n a n d ref u eli n g. At h o urs, t h e y t o o k off f or t h eir fi n al stri k e o n a diff ere nt p ort f acilit y. F oll o wi n g t h e att ac k, t h e y r et ur n e d dir ectl y t o t h eir h o m e b as e, w h ere t h e y l a n d e d at h o urs. T hr o u g h o ut t h e ni g ht, t h e y cr oss e d o v er ci vil a vi ati o n r o ut es a n d e nc o u nt ere d c h a n gi n g w e at h er c o n diti o ns. O n 1 6 S e pt e m b er , t h e s a m e N S F u nit p artici p at e d i n t h e Br a v er y ( 勇敢 ) e x ercis e i n t h e Yell o w S e a. 5 8 St arti n g at h o urs, f o ur J H- 7s or g a ni z e d i nt o t w o t w o-s hi p f or m ati o ns 2 5

41 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S t o o k off, fl e w at l o w altit u d e, p e n etr at e d e n e m y n a v al d ef e ns es, a n d e ac h gr o u p dr o p p e d t w o mi n es n e ar e n e m y d estr o yers f or t h e first ti m e. Aft er dr o p pi n g t h eir mi n es, t h e y h a d t o e v a d e a ntiaircr aft missil es fire d fr o m t h e d estr o yers b y usi n g m a n e u v ers a n d dr o p pi n g c h aff. T h e S S F h el d a si mil ar e x ercis e i n A u g ust i n t h e S o ut h C hi n a S e a. 5 9 B esi d es l a yi n g mi n es, t his e x ercis e als o i n v ol v e d att ac ki n g a c ar g o s hi p a n d its esc ort d estr o yer a n d fri g at e. O n S u n d a y, 1 D ec e m b er , si x J H- 7s fr o m a n E S F r e gi m e nt c o n d uct e d air-t o- air e n g a g e m e nts o v er w at er i n t w o-s hi p f or m ati o ns. 6 0 Alt o g et h er, t h e e x ercis e i n v ol v e d fi g ht ers, fi g ht erb o m b ers, A E W aircr aft, a n d h elic o pt ers, as w ell as a f or m ati o n of s hi ps. T h e e x ercis e w as c o ntr oll e d t hr o u g h a s h or e- b as e d c o m m a n d p ost usi n g d at a li n ks. T h e si x J H- 7s t o o k off first a n d w ere f oll o w e d b y a f or m ati o n of J- 1 0s, t h us fl yi n g i n s e p ar at e ec h el o ns ( 梯队 ). W hil e e n r o ut e t o t h e e n g a g e m e nt z o n e, b ot h gr o u ps of aircr aft c o nti n u all y c h a n g e d t h eir f or m ati o ns, fli g ht p at h, a n d altit u d e (l o w a n d v er y l o w) as t h e y cl os e d i n o n t h eir t ar g ets. As t h e y a p pr o ac h e d t h eir t ar g et area, t h e w e at h er als o c h a n g e d, re d uci n g visi bilit y. T h e r e ar s e at n a vi g at or m o nit or e d t h e r a d ar a n d g ui d e d t h e m t o t h e e n g a g e m e nt area. U p o n arri vi n g i n t h e area, t h e pil ots t h e n b e g a n s e arc hi n g vis u all y f or t h eir t ar g ets, e v e n t h o u g h t h e visi bilit y w as l o w. T h e air-t o- air e n g a g e m e nt i ncl u d e d air-t o- air missil es a n d g u ns. F oll o wi n g t h e J H- 7 e n g a g e m e nts, t h e J- 1 0s t h e n e n g a g e d t h e e n e m y aircr aft. I n A u g ust , ei g ht S S F t hir d- g e n er ati o n c o m b at aircr aft ( 战机 ), w h os e l e a d pil ot w as t h e c o m m a n d er of t h e 8t h Air Di visi o n, t o o k off b ef or e d a w n a n d c o n d uct e d t h e first l o n g- dist a nc e o v erw at er stri k e tr ai ni n g f or t h e n e w aircr aft. 6 1 Aft er t a ki n g off, t h e aircr aft fl e w i n f or m ati o n t hr o u g h ci vil aircr aft air r o ut es i n p o or w e at h er c o n diti o ns u n d er r a di o sil e nc e f or o v er o n e h o ur at l o w altit u d e. As t h e y a p pr o ac h e d t h eir t ar g et, t h e y r e d uc e d t h eir altit u d e, p e n etr at e d t h e e n e m y d ef e ns es, t ur n e d o n t h eir r a d ar, l oc at e d t h eir t ar g ets, m o v e d i nt o b o m bi n g f or m ati o ns, a n d, u p o n rec ei vi n g t h eir att ac k or d ers dr o p p e d t h eir b o m bs. Aft er l e a vi n g t h eir t ar g et area, 2 6

42 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) t h e y r et ur n e d t o a n alt er n at e airfi el d b ef or e fl yi n g t o yet a n ot h er alt er n at e airfi el d b ef ore fl yi n g t o t h eir h o m e b as e. As a res ult, t h e di visi o n s n e w fi g ht ers s et a r ec or d f or t h eir first d a y- a n d- ni g ht l o n g- r a n g e r ai d, wit h a r a n g e e xc e e di n g 2, kil o m et ers, a n d p assi n g t hr o u g h m ulti pl e airfi el ds. I n l at e , s e v er al J H- 7s fr o m a n S S F re gi m e nt t o o k off fr o m d e e p m o u nt ai ns, o v erc a m e c o m plic at e d w e at h er c o n diti o ns, cr oss e d m a n y n a vi g ati o n li n es, fl e w m ore t h a n t w o h o urs b y cr ossi n g f o ur pr o vi n c es a n d a ut o n o m o us r e gi o ns, a n d c arri e d o ut l o n g- dist a n c e pr ecisi o n stri k es a g ai nst t ar g ets i n u nf a mili ar w at ers s o m e 1, kil o m et ers a w a y. 6 2 O n 1 0 A pril , t h e E S F s 6t h Air Di visi o n J H- 7s c o n d uct e d m ulti- w a v e, m ulti- directi o n al, v er y-l o w altit u d e, pr ecisi o n missil e att ac ks a g ai nst isl a n d reefs a n d b e ac h p ositi o ns t h at b e g a n at h o urs a n d l ast e d i nt o t h e ni g ht. 6 3 I n t h e mi d s, N a v al Avi ati o n J H- 7s b e g a n c o n d ucti n g o p p ositi o n-f orc e tr ai ni n g wit h n a v al v ess els; h o w e v er, t h e tr ai ni n g w as still n e w a n d w as hi g hl y scri pt e d. 6 4 Si nc e t h e n, N a v al Avi ati o n J H- 7s h a v e a p p are ntl y p artici p at e d o nl y occ asi o n all y i n o p p ositi o n- f orc e tr ai ni n g wit h P L A N v ess els at s e a. S u m m ar y N a v al Avi ati o n n o w h as J H- 7 u nits i n e ac h of t h e t hree fl e ets wit h a n o v er w h el mi n g s et of res p o nsi biliti es, i ncl u di n g air-t o- air i nt erc e pts, air-t o-s hi p missil e a n d b o m b stri k es, l a yi n g a ntis u b m ari n e a n d a nti-s hi p mi n es, a n d air-t o-s urf ac e missil e a n d b o m b stri k es a g ai nst v ari o us l a n d- b as e d t ar g ets, i ncl u di n g p orts. As wit h N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht ers, t h es e aircr aft are i ncreasi n g t h eir tr ai ni n g e v e nts; h o w e v er, n o articl es disc uss sit u ati o ns w h er e t h e aircr aft di d n ot s ucc essf ull y acc o m plis h t h eir missi o ns. As s uc h, t his i m pli es t h at t h eir tr ai ni n g is n ot realistic f or b ot h t h e air u nits a n d f or a n y at-s e a v ess els or s h or e- b as e d t ar g ets i n v ol v e d i n o p p ositi o n-f orc e tr ai ni n g. 2 7

43 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S N a v al A vi ati o n B o m b er Tr ai ni n g As n ot e d e arli er, N a v al Avi ati o n h as a b o m b er u nit i n e ac h fl e et. B as e d o n a r e vi e w of articl es p u blis h e d i n Re n mi n H aij u n fr o m J a n u ar y t hr o u g h , e ac h u nit a p p e ars t o c o n d uct t h e s a m e b asic t y p es of tr ai ni n g t o 1) d estr o y e n e m y v ess els b y l a u nc hi n g air-t o-s hi p missil es a g ai nst v ess els or dr o p pi n g b o m bs o n t h e m, a n d 2) dr o p pi n g b o m bs o n l a n d- b as e d t ar g ets, i ncl u di n g h ar b ors, d oc ks, isl a n ds, reefs, a n d m ariti m e b as es. S o m e of t h e missi o ns of b o m b er tr ai ni n g wit hi n t h e P L A A F o v erl a p t o s o m e e xt e nt wit h t h os e of t h e P L A N a v al Avi ati o n. F or e x a m pl e, b o m b ers wit hi n t h e P L A A F als o u n d ert a k e m ariti m e missi o ns a n d tr ai ni n g i n t h e E ast a n d S o ut h C hi n a S e as. H o w e v er, P L A n a v al a vi ati o n b o m b ers tr ai n e xcl usi v el y i n t h e m ariti m e d o m ai n, w hil e b o m b ers wit hi n t h e P L A A F tr ai n i n b ot h l a n d a n d m ariti m e d o m ai ns. T his s ecti o n a d dress es tr ai ni n g b y b o m b ers a g ai nst v ess els a n d l a n d- b as e d t ar g ets, t o i ncl u d e c h all e n g es f or fl yi n g o v er w at er a n d l o o ki n g at a t y pic al tr ai ni n g s orti e d esi g n e d t o stri k e a v ess el or l a n d- b as e d t ar g et. A Ty pic al Tr ai ni n g S ortie N a v al Avi ati o n b o m b ers tr ai n i n t h e s a m e b asic w a y as t h e ot h er airfr a m es. Wit h t h e e xc e pti o n of t h e t ar g ets, all ot h er as p ects of t h e tr ai ni n g fli g ht are a b o ut t h e s a m e. O n e of t h e bi g g est diff ere nc es, h o w e v er, is t h at t h e y c a n c o n d uct l o n g er fli g hts f or l o n g er p eri o ds of ti m e a n d i n v ol v e t e n or m or e aircr aft ( e. g., pr o b a bl y t w o fli g ht gr o u ps, e ac h wit h t w o fli g ht s q u a dr o ns) fl yi n g as a gr o u p ( 机群 ) i n t w o fli g ht f or m ati o ns ( 编队 ) t o g et h er. 6 5 F or e x a m pl e, aircr aft assi g n e d t o o n e S S F b o m b er re gi m e nt c o n d uct e d a si x- h o ur s orti e t h at b e g a n at h o urs a n d i ncl u d e d li v e b o m bi n g. 6 6 N a v al Avi ati o n is als o n o w pr actici n g m ore ni g ht-ti m e, l o n g- dist a nc e tr ai ni n g s orti es. W hil e o n e fli g ht f or m ati o n s t as k is t o c o n d uct a missil e a n d b o m b att ac k a g ai nst a n e n e m y v ess el, t h e s ec o n d fli g ht f or m ati o n c o n d ucts li v e b o m bi n g a g ai nst l a n d t ar g ets. 2 8

44 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) L a u nc hi n g t he We a po ns As t h e b o m b ers a p pr o ac h t h eir t ar g et, t h e e n e m y b e gi ns t o fire missil es a n d a nti aircr aft artill er y r o u n ds at t h e aircr aft. To o v erc o m e t his, t h e b o m b ers l a u nc h s e v er al d o z e n r o u n ds of c h aff t o j a m t h e r a d ars. 6 7 Aft er o v erc o mi n g t h e e n e m y s j a m mi n g a n d ki n etic att ac ks, t h e b o m b ers us e o n- b o ar d r a d ar t o ac q uire t h eir t ar g ets. O nc e t his is acc o m plis h e d, t h e f or m ati o n c o m m a n d er re q u ests a n d rec ei v es p er missi o n fr o m t h e gr o u n d- b as e d or air b or n e c o m m a n d p ost t o l a u nc h t h eir a nti-s hi p missil es a g ai nst t h e e n e m y v ess els fr o m s e v er al h u n dre ds of kil o m et ers a w a y or dr o p t h eir b o m bs a g ai nst l a n d- b as e d t ar g ets fr o m a n u ni d e ntifi e d dist a nc e. 6 8 J ust b ef or e dr o p pi n g t h e b o m bs a g ai nst t h e l a n d- b as e d t ar g ets, t h e f or m ati o n c o m m a n d er or d ers t h e aircr aft t o p ull u p u ntil t h e y ac hi e v e t h e pr o p er el e v ati o n. 6 9 Fi g u r e 4: N a v al A vi ati o n B o m b e r s S o urc e: htt p:// w w w.j a n es.c o m/i m a g es/ ass ets/ 7 8 6/ / p j p g Air b or n e E arl y W ar ni n g Air cr aft a n d Air b or n e C o m m a n d P o st Tr ai ni n g T his s ecti o n a d dress es tr ai ni n g b y N a v al Avi ati o n air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g ( A E W ) aircr aft a n d t h eir tr a nsiti o n t o b ec o mi n g 2 9

45 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S air b or n e c o m m a n d p osts. 7 0 Of n ot e, N a v al Avi ati o n us es t h e t er m air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g aircr aft ( 预警机 ) a n d t h e acr o n y m A E W f or its KJ aircr aft. It d o es n ot us e air b or n e w ar ni n g a n d c o ntr ol s yst e m ( A W A C S) or air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g a n d c o ntr ol ( A E W & C). Si mil ar t o ot h er br a nc h es of P L A n a v al a vi ati o n, s o m e of t h e A E W missi o ns wit hi n t h e P L A A F ar e t h e s a m e as t h os e of t h e P L A N a v al Avi ati o n, wit h P L A A F A E W aircr aft als o u n d ert a ki n g m ariti m e missi o ns a n d tr ai ni n g. H o w e v er, t h e diff ere nc e is t h at P L A n a v al a vi ati o n A E W aircr aft tr ai n e xcl usi v el y i n t h e m ariti m e d o m ai n, w hil e A E W aircr aft wit hi n t h e P L A A F tr ai n i n b ot h t h e l a n d a n d m ariti m e d o m ai ns. To d a y, t h e N S F s 2 n d Air Di visi o n h as t hr e e s u b or di n at e r e gi m e nts ( 4t h, 5t h, a n d 6t h), w h os e missi o ns i ncl u d e A E W, I S R (i nt elli g e nc e, s ur v eill a nc e, a n d rec o n n aiss a nc e), a n d A S W. Pri or t o , t h es e w ere i n d e p e n d e nt r e gi m e nts t h at w ere still s u b or di n at e t o t h e 2 n d Air Di visi o n. 7 1 I n mi d , t h e 4t h I n d e p e n d e nt R e gi m e nt w as e q ui p p e d wit h a n e w m o d el of air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g aircr aft ( KJ ), s h o w n b el o w. 7 2 Fi g u r e 5: K J , Ai r b o r n e E a rl y W a r ni n g Ai r c r aft S o urc e: htt ps:// e n. wi ki p e di a. or g/ wi ki/ KJ #/ m e di a/ Fil e: P L A A F _ S h a a n xi _ Y- 8 _- _ KJ j p g Si nc e t h e n e w A E W aircr aft w ere assi g n e d, Re n mi n H aij u n h as p u blis h e d s e v er al d et ail e d articl es a b o ut h o w t h e u nit h as 3 0

46 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) i nt e gr at e d t h e n e w aircr aft, i ncl u di n g m ulti pl e p ers o n n el a n d e q ui p m e nt c h all e n g es. It is n ot cl e ar w h at aircr e w bill ets b esi d es t h e pil ot a n d c o- pil ot are o n t h e A E W aircr aft a n d w h o fills t h e m; h o w e v er, r ef ere nc es h a v e b e e n m a d e t o a n air b or n e c o m m a n d er ( 空中指挥员 ), w h o pr o vi d es g ui d a nc e t o c o m b at aircr aft i n t h e air. F or e x a m pl e, o nl y o n e ref ere nc e w as f o u n d c o nc er ni n g a s p ecific air b or n e c o m m a n d er, Z h a n g Xi n qi ( 张新起 ), w h o w as o n e of t h e d e p ut y c o m m a n d ers of a n u ni d e ntifi e d N S F air di visi o n; h o w e v er, b as e d o n a re vi e w of s e v er al articl es a b o ut Z h a n g, h e is m ost li k el y assi g n e d t o t h e 2 n d Air Di visi o n, w hic h h as all of N a v al Avi ati o n s s u b or di n at e A E W a n d I S R aircr aft. 7 3 S p ecific all y, Z h a n g s er v e d as t h e air b or n e c o m m a n d er d uri n g a n o p p ositi o n-f orc e tr ai ni n g e v e nt t h at i n v ol v e d g ui di n g R e d F orc e fi g ht ers a g ai nst Bl u e F orc e fi g ht ers. Fi g u r e 6: Ai r Tr af fi c C o nt r oll e r s o n Ai r b o r n e E a rl y W a r ni n g Ai r c r aft S o urc e: htt p:// w w w.si n ai m g.c n/ d y/sli d e n e ws/ 8 _i m g/ _ 3 0/ _ _ j p g It a p p e ars t h at, w h e n t h e aircr aft are d e pl o ye d f or tr ai ni n g wit h c o m b at aircr aft (fi g ht ers, b o m b ers, a n d/ or att ac k aircr aft), t h at t w o A E W aircr aft al o n g wit h o n e el ectr o nic s ur v eill a nc e aircr aft ar e oft e n air b or n e at t h e s a m e ti m e. 7 4 It is n ot cl e ar if A E W a n d 3 1

47 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S r ec o n n aiss a nc e aircr aft ret ur n h o m e a n d ar e r e pl ac e d b y ot h er aircr aft aft er a c ert ai n n u m b er of h o urs d uri n g tr ai ni n g e v e nts, or t a k e a d v a nt a g e of great er e n d ur a nc e. W h ereas t h e A E W aircr aft c o n d uct m ost of t h eir tr ai ni n g i n t h e N S F area, t h e y als o d e pl o y t o t h e E S F a n d S S F t o c o n d uct tr ai ni n g. D uri n g o n e tr ai ni n g e v e nt, t h e aircr aft d e p art e d at h o urs, arri v e d at t h eir d e pl o ye d airfi el d at , a n d t h e n b e g a n t h e tr ai ni n g e v e nt at t h e n e xt m or ni n g (s h o w n b el o w). 7 5 Fi g u r e 7: Ai r b o r n e E a rl y W a r ni n g Ai r c r aft B e gi n s Tr ai ni n g E v e nt S o urc e: htt p:// pic- b uc k et. n os d n n et/ p h ot o/ / / D 0 2 O O V DJ 4 T 8 E N O S.j p g U ntil t h e p ast f e w y e ars, N a v al Avi ati o n s A E W aircr aft act e d s ol el y as a c oll e cti o n pl atf or m t h at g at h er e d i nf or m ati o n a n d t h e n s e nt it t o a gr o u n d- b as e d c o m m a n d p ost, w h er e t h e fli g ht c o m m a n d ers t h e n us e d t h e i nf or m ati o n as a b asis f or c o m m u ni c ati n g wit h c o m b at aircr aft i n t h e air. Si n c e ar o u n d e arl y , h o w e v er, t his sit u ati o n h as b e g u n t o c h a n g e. S p e cifi c all y, t h e A E W aircr aft h a v e gr a d u all y b e e n tr a nsiti o ni n g t o b e c o m e air b or n e c o m m a n d p osts ( 空中指挥所 ). F or e x a m pl e, i n N o v e m b er , t h e N S F c o n d u ct e d a tr ai ni n g e v e nt t h at i n cl u d e d a n A E W aircr aft, w h er e di visi o n d e p ut y c o m m a n d er Z h a n g Xi n qi, dis c uss e d e arli er, s er v e d as t h e air b or n e 3 2

48 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) c o m m a n d er. 7 6 D uri n g t h e e v e nt, t h e gr o u n d- b as e d c o m m a n d p ost e x p eri e n c e d j a m mi n g, s o it t ur n e d o v er t h e c o m m a n d f u n cti o n t o t h e A E W aircr aft. T h e c o m m u ni c ati o ns p ers o n n el i m pl e m e nt e d fr e q u e n c y- h o p pi n g a n d fr e q u e n c y-c h a n gi n g pr o c e d ur es, a n d t h e el e ctr o ni c c o u nt er m e as ur es p ers o n n el c arri e d o ut c o u nt er-j a m mi n g s u p pr essi o n. Z h a n g or d er e d t h e cr e w t o st art u p t h e o n b o ar d e arl y w ar ni n g c o m m a n d pl atf or m s yst e m, w hi c h t h e n t ur n e d t h e aircr aft i nt o t h e air b or n e o p er ati o ns c o m m a n d p ost. I n O ct o b er , N a v al Avi ati o n c o n d u ct e d t h e first a n d l ar g est s c al e o p p ositi o n-f orc e dissi mil ar fi g ht er aircr aft drill e m pl o yi n g all t hr e e fl e ets t o i n cl u d e a n A E W aircr aft s er vi n g as a n air b or n e c o m m a n d p ost. 7 7 T h e A E W aircr aft t o o k o v er r es p o nsi biliti es f or g ui di n g all att ac k missi o ns a n d w or k e d i n c o nj u n cti o n wit h gr o u n d- b as e d r a d ars a n d t h e gr o u n d- b as e d c o m m a n d p ost. T h e tr ai ni n g e v e nt s er v e d as a r es e arc h t o ol f or i n cr e asi n g t h e aircr aft s i n v ol v e m e nt as a c o m m a n d p ost t o f urt h er t est, v erif y, a n d i m pr o v e o p er ati o n al a n d tr ai ni n g m et h o ds. T hr o u g h o ut t h e r es e arc h tr ai ni n g pr o c ess, p arti ci p a nts i n t h e drill w er e gi v e n t ot al fr e e d o m t o c h o os e air b attl e m a n e u v eri n g acti o ns, t h er e w as n o c o nfr o nt ati o n al drill s c h e m e d esi g n at e d i n a d v a n c e, t h er e w as n o sti p ul ati o n t o d esi g n at e t h e dir e cti o n of i n ci d e n c e, a n d t h er e w as n o d efi nit e ti mi n g t o l a u n c h att ac ks. T h e p arti ci p ati n g u nits w er e t o st a g e el e ctr o ni c j a m mi n g a n d p erf or m b ac k-t o- b ac k act u al c o nfr o nt ati o n al drills t hr o u g h o ut t h e pr o c ess, i n acc or d a n c e wit h t h e t acti c al r e q uir e m e nts. O n t h e r e al-ti m e air b attl e sit u ati o n al m a p dis pl a y e d i n t h e A E W aircr aft s c o m m a n d p ost, t h e air b or n e c o m m a n d er s a w a h u g e i nf or m ati o n n et f or m e d b y l a n d- b as e d r a d ars a n d air b or n e e arl y- w ar ni n g aircr aft, w hi c h w or k e d si d e b y si d e. 7 8 T h e s cr e e n s h o w e d b e y o n d vis u al r a n g e ( B V R) att ac ks, m e di u m-r a n g e i nt erc e pts, a n d cl os e- q u art er d o gfi g hts. I n a d diti o n, arr o w h e a d si g ns f oll o w e d b y li n es, r e pr es e nti n g air b attl e p at hs, w er e i nt er w o v e n o n t h e m a p. F or t h e p arti ci p ati n g u nits, t h e drill w as n ot s cri pt e d. T h e u nits w er e o nl y t ol d a b o ut t h e l o c ati o n of t h e airs p ac e d esi g n at e d f or t h e air 3 3

49 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S b attl e drill b ut n ot t h eir e x act l o c ati o n. As t h e e n g a g e m e nt b e g a n, t h e t w o si d es e xc h a n g e d b ac k a n d f ort h fr o m off e ns e t o d ef e ns e. C o m m a n d c arri e d o ut b y t h e A E W aircr aft is diff er e nt fr o m t h at t a ki n g pl ac e o n t h e gr o u n d. 7 9 A n air b or n e c o m m a n d er is a bl e t o pr o m ptl y ass ess t h e sit u ati o n i n t h e air a n d gi v e t h e or d ers t o att ac k or t o t a k e c o v er acc or di n gl y. T h e i nt e gr at e d c o m m a n d pl atf or m is t h e o n e si n gl e f act or t h at aff e cts a n air b or n e c o m m a n d er s fl e xi bl e ass ess m e nt a n d h a n dli n g of t h e sit u ati o n as it u nf ol ds. I n t h e p ast, t h e i nt e gr at e d c o m m a n d pl atf or m a n d aircr aft-c arri e d i nf or m ati o n s yst e ms w er e n ot us e d t o o oft e n, s o t h e est a blis h m e nt of d at a li n ks w as l ess s u c c essf ul, r es ulti n g i n t h e r e gi m e nt s gr o wt h of c o m b at c a p a biliti es b ei n g st u nt e d i n o p er ati o ns r e q uiri n g t h e us e of i nf or m ati o n s yst e ms. I n t h e tr ai ni n g pr o gr a m i m pl e m e nt e d i n , t h e A E W aircr aft i m pl e m e nt e d a hi g h er us e of d at a li n ks. To d a y, t h e A E W aircr aft air b or n e c o m m a n d er a n al y z es t h e sit u ati o n a n d s e n ds g ui d a n c e ( 引导 ) or c o m m a n d a n d g ui d a n c e ( 指挥引导 / 指引 ) t o e ac h r el e v a nt fli g ht f or m ati o n t hr o u g h d at a li n ks. 8 0 Aft er b ei n g g ui d e d t o t h e ri g ht ar e a, t h e fi g ht ers a p pr o ac h e d t h e e n e m y a n d r e c ei v e or d ers fr o m t h e air b or n e c o m m a n d er t o att ac k. 8 1 I n a d diti o n t o g ui di n g fi g ht ers d uri n g air e n g a g e m e nts, t h e A E W aircr aft us e d at a li n ks t o g ui d e b o m b ers a n d att ac k aircr aft f or stri k es a g ai nst s urf ac e v ess els. 8 2 To acc o m plis h t his, t h e A E W aircr aft pr o vi d es i nf or m ati o n a b o ut t h e v ess els l o c ati o n a n d a n y acti v e air d ef e ns es a n d r a d ar s yst e ms. It als o g ui d es t h e m t hr o u g h t h e d ef e ns es a n d iss u es t h e or d er t o l a u n c h t h e missil e att ac k w h e n a p pr o pri at e. F or e x a m pl e, i n Fe br u ar y , a n N S F [fi g ht erb o m b er] r e gi m e nt c o n d u ct e d a tr ai ni n g e v e nt j oi ntl y wit h a n A E W u nit t o d e v el o p att ac ks a g ai nst v ess els. 8 3 S h ortl y aft er t a ki n g off, t h e sit u ati o n c h a n g e d, s u c h t h at t h e l e a d pil ot f or t w o f or m ati o ns fl yi n g t o g et h er, w h o is c all e d t h e air b or n e c o m m a n d er ( 空中指挥员 ), r e c ei v e d i nf or m ati o n fr o m a d at a li n k fr o m t h e A E W aircr aft a n d t o o k o v er c o m m a n d of t h e att ac k b y g ui di n g t h e ot h er aircr aft i n t h e f or m ati o ns t o l o c k o nt o a n e n e m y s hi p f or pr e cisi o n stri k e. B y usi n g a d at a li n k s yst e m, t h e r e gi m e nt is a bl e t o c o n n e ct t h e 3 4

50 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) air b or n e c o m m a n d er wit h t h e A E W aircr aft c o m m a n d p ost a n d gr o u n d- b as e d c o m m a n d p ost, as w ell as all ot h er c o m b at u nits, f or m or e fl e xi bl e c o m m a n d e x ec uti o n cl os er t o t h e sit e of act u al c o m b at. S u m m ar y Si nc e b ot h N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F h a v e o nl y rec e ntl y b e g u n t o all o w p ers o n n el o n t h eir A E W aircr aft t o c o m m u nic at e directl y wit h fi g ht er, fi g ht er- b o m b er, a n d b o m b er aircr aft i n t h e air, t h e i nf or m ati o n i n t his c h a pt er is v al u a bl e as a wi n d o w i nt o t his n e w c o nc e pt. It will m ost li k el y t a k e s o m e ti m e f or all c o m p o n e nts of N a v al Avi ati o n t o b ec o m e c o mf ort a bl e wit h t his n e w c o nc e pt, p artic ul arl y i n t h e c o nt e xt of o p er ati o ns u n d er C E M E c o n diti o ns a n d at i ncreasi n gl y f urt h er dist a nc es fr o m t h e c o ast. N a v al A vi ati o n Air R ef u eli n g Tr ai ni n g T his s ecti o n a d dr ess es N a v al Avi ati o n a eri al ref u eli n g c a p a bilit y. To d at e, t h e li mit e d n u m b er of H- 6 t a n k ers i n e ac h of t h e t hree fl e ets c a n o nl y ref u el s p ecific v ersi o ns of t h e J- 8 a n d J- 1 0 fi g ht ers. 8 4 I n e arl y , a n S S F H- 6 b o m b er re gi m e nt w as t as k e d t o creat e a s m all H- 6 U t a n k er s u b u nit ( 分队 ) b y c o n v erti n g s o m e of its aircr aft t o a eri al r ef u eli n g t a n k er v ersi o ns. 8 5 Alt h o u g h t h e or d er w as r ec ei v e d i n , it t o o k f o ur ye ars t o pr e p ar e t h e u nit t o s ucc essf ull y c o n d uct its first l o n g- dist a nc e, o v er w at er ref u eli n g tr ai ni n g i n S e pt e m b er S o m e u nits, h o w e v er, di d n ot e v e n b e gi n a eri al r ef u eli n g tr ai ni n g u ntil a n d To d a y, all t hree fl e ets h a v e b e e n a bl e t o k e e p fi g ht ers al oft f or t w o t o t hree ti m es t h e n or m al a m o u nt of ti m e a n d c o n d uct l o n g-r a n g e fi g ht er e n g a g e m e nts o v er w at er b y c o n d ucti n g a eri al r ef u eli n g. 8 8 I n s o m e c as es, t h e t a n k er a n d fi g ht ers are v ect ore d t o e ac h ot h er t hr o u g h c o m m u nic ati o ns wit h a n A E W aircr aft

51 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S Fi g u r e s 8 a n d 9: A e ri al R ef u eli n g S o urc e: Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 7 J u n e , p. 1 a n d 2 8 S e pt e m b er , p. 1, res p ecti v el y. C o nc er ni n g t h e Li ao ni n g aircr aft c arri er, i n mi d , N a v al Avi ati o n J- 1 5 s a p p are ntl y c o n d uct e d b u d d y st or e i n-fli g ht ref u eli n g, w h ere o n e fi g ht er rec ei v es f u el fr o m a n ot h er fi g ht er. 9 0 A b u d d y ref u eli n g c a p a bilit y is c ert ai nl y i m p ort a nt f or t h e P L A N s a bilit y t o c o n d uct fli g ht o p er ati o ns at e xt e n d e d dist a nc es fr o m s h ore b ut t h e offl o a d c a p acit y of a fi g ht er is li mit e d, p artic ul arl y if it d o es n ot c arr y e xt er n al f u el p o ds. 9 1 A d diti o n all y, e v er y fi g ht er t as k e d wit h t a n ki n g d ut y re m o v es a fi g ht er fr o m c o m b at o p er ati o ns, n ot a mi n or c o nsi d er ati o n o n a s m all c arri er wit h a li mit e d air gr o u p. Fi g u r e 1 0: J-1 5 B u d d y St o r e R ef u eli n g S o urc e: htt p://i p h ot o b uc k et.c o m/ al b u ms/s 4 8 9/t h e mi d dl e p at h 1/ Milit ar y/ hf 5 m 7 olf 4 3rti 5lj _ z ps b d 1 0f.j p g 3 6

52 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) I n a d diti o n, i n e arl y J a n u ar y , t h e P L A r el e as e d a vi d e o s h o wi n g t h at a S u- 3 0 fi g ht er j et w as b ei n g ref u el e d b y a n I L- 7 8 air-ref u eli n g aircr aft. 9 2 Acc or di n g t o t h e p ost e d i nf or m ati o n, J a ne s Defe nse Wee kly r e p ort e d i n N o v e m b er t h at C hi n a h a d r ec ei v e d at l e ast o n e I L- 7 8 t a n k er pl a n e fr o m U kr ai n e o ut of t hr e e t h at it h a d or d ere d i n It is n ot cl e ar, h o w e v er, if t h e t a n k ers will s u p p ort t h e P L A A F a n d/ or N a v al Avi ati o n. Fi n all y, C hi n a is s u p p os e dl y d e v el o pi n g a Y- 2 0 a eri al ref u eli n g aircr aft, b ut it h as n ot yet e nt er e d s er vic e. 9 3 S u m m ar y T h e b ott o m li n e h er e is t h at N a v al Avi ati o n, li k e t h e P L A A F, c o n d ucts o nl y mi ni m al air r ef u eli n g d u e t o a l ac k of ref u eli n g aircr aft a n d t h e t y p es of aircr aft t h at c a n b e ref u el e d i n t h e air. Of p artic ul ar i nt erest is t h e gr o wi n g i nt er est t o b e a bl e t o ref u el c arri er- b or n e fi g ht ers. N a v al A vi ati o n H eli c o pt er Tr ai ni n g T his s ecti o n pr o vi d es i nf or m ati o n a b o ut N a v al Avi ati o n h elic o pt ers, w hic h are assi g n e d i n e ac h of t h e t hr e e fl e ets. T h e y a p p are ntl y s h are t h e s a m e airfi el d wit h fi x e d- wi n g aircr aft. W hil e t h e h elic o pt ers are assi g n e d t o s h ore- b as e d u nits, t h e y d e pl o y a b o ar d v ari o us v ess els, i ncl u di n g d estr o yers, fri g at es, a n d c or v ett es. I n s o m e c as es, h o w e v er, t h e y are i d e ntifi e d as s hi p b or n e h elic o pt er r e gi m e nts ( e. g., e m b ar k e d h elic o pt ers) ( 舰载机团 ). 9 4 T h eir pri m ar y t as ks are a nti-s u b m ari n e w arf are ( A S W )-rel at e d, i ncl u di n g di p pi n g s o n ars i nt o t h e w at er a n d firi n g air-l a u nc h e d a ntis u b m ari n e t or p e d o es, as w ell as m e dic al resc u e s u p p ort. O n e of t h e c h all e n g es f or N a v al Avi ati o n is l a n di n g o n v ari o us v ess els i n all t y p es of s e a a n d w e at h er c o n diti o ns. F or e x a m pl e, t h e tr ai ni n g t as k of l a n di n g o n a m o vi n g s hi p is hi g hl y diffic ult b ut is als o greatl y pr actic al i n act u al o p er ati o ns. 9 5 S uc h s kill pl a ys a n 3 7

53 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S i m p ort a nt r ol e i n t h e c oll a b or ati v e o p er ati o ns b et w e e n h elic o pt ers a n d s hi ps. I n M a y , f or e x a m pl e, o n e s hi p- b as e d h elic o pt er r e gi m e nt arr a n g e d hi g h-i nt e nsit y fli g ht tr ai ni n g f or n e w pil ots u n d er s p eci al s e a c o n diti o ns c o m pl eti n g s orti es, hi g hli g hti n g t h e i ncr e asi n g i m p ort a nc e of tr ai ni n g f or l a n di n gs o n m o vi n g s hi ps u n d er s u b- o pti m al s e a c o n diti o ns. Alt h o u g h h elic o pt ers ar e assi g n e d t o v ari o us v ess els, t h e y ar e oft e n n ot a bl e t o o p er at e d u e t o p o or s e a c o n diti o ns. F or e x a m pl e, d uri n g t h e M a n e u v er- 5 ( 机动 - 5) e x ercis e i n t h e West er n Pacific i n Oct o b er , t h e t as k f orc es h a d t o d e al wit h Ty p h o o n Fr a ncisc o, w hic h i n v ol v e d str o n g wi n d f orc e of 6 or 7 a n d str o n g w a v es of f o ur t o si x m et ers hi g h. 9 6 As a res ult of t h e p o or s e a c o n diti o ns, t h e s hi p b or n e h elic o pt ers c o ul d n ot t a k e off, s o t h e v ess els h a d t o rel y o n t h eir o w n A S W s yst e ms t o d et ect t h e s u b m ari n es. I n a d diti o n, l a n di n g o n a v ess el at ni g ht h as al w a ys b e e n a c h all e n g e. Alt h o u g h t h e first h elic o pt er l a n di n g o n a s hi p t o o k pl ac e o n 3 J a n u ar y o utsi d e t h e m o ut h of t h e Ya n g zi Ri v er, m ost u nits di d n ot r o uti n el y c o n d uct ni g ht tr ai ni n g u ntil t h e e arl y s. 9 7 H o w e v er, n e w v ess els are i niti ati n g tr ai ni n g as e arl y as p ossi bl e. F or e x a m pl e, t h e B e n g b u Ty p e Ji a n g d a o-cl ass of c or v ett e w as c o m missi o n e d i n Fe br u ar y a n d c o n d uct e d its first ni g ht h elic o pt er s orti es i n D ec e m b er B esi d es fl yi n g off of v ess els, s o m e N a v al Avi ati o n h elic o pt ers c o n d uct t h eir A S W missi o ns fr o m t h eir h o m e airfi el d. T h e y als o d e pl o y t o ot h er airfi el ds, w h ere t h e y t h e n c o n d uct t h eir m ariti m e t as ks. 9 9 D e p e n di n g o n t h e t y p e of v ess el, u p t o t hr e e h elic o pt ers of v ari o us t y p es c a n c o n d uct c o or di n at e d missi o ns. F or e x a m pl e, i n A pril , t h e E S F s F u z h o u d estr o yer si m ult a n e o usl y d e pl o ye d t hree h elic o pt ers of diff er e nt t y p es, w hic h w as t h e first ti m e f or a n y d estr o yer t o acc o m plis h t his I n J u n e , a n N S F N a v al Avi ati o n h elic o pt er re gi m e nt w as i n v ol v e d i n t h e first j oi nt milit ar y-ci vili a n r a pi d-re p air m o bili z ati o n drill at a ci vili a n airfi el d o n t h e S h a n d o n g Pe ni ns ul a t h at h a d b e e n str uc k b y e n e m y m u niti o ns T h e drill us e d t h e N ati o n al D ef e ns e 3 8

54 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) M o bili z ati o n L a w as its f o u n d ati o n. A si n gl e h elic o pt er w as us e d t o e v ac u at e i nj ure d p ers o n n el fr o m t h e airfi el d t o r el e v a nt h os pit als. I n a d diti o n, i n A pril , a h elic o pt er o n t h e F u z h o u d estr o yer resc u e d a s ail or w h o h a d f all e n o v er b o ar d S u m m ar y N a v al Avi ati o n h as b ot h s hi p b or n e a n d l a n d- b as e d h elic o pt ers, w h os e pri m ar y missi o ns ar e A S W-r el at e d. As n ot e d i n t h e s ecti o n, h o w e v er, h elic o pt er tr ai ni n g h as h a d a l o n g, diffic ult stretc h i n v ol vi n g fl yi n g i n p o or s e a c o n diti o ns, at l o n g er dist a nc es, a n d at all ti m es of t h e d a y. Alt h o u g h n ot disc uss e d i n t h e s ecti o n, N a v al Avi ati o n h as d e pl o ye d m ulti pl e h elic o pt ers a b o ar d v ess els i n v ol v e d i n t h e 2 3 esc ort missi o ns i n t h e G ulf of A d e n si nc e As s uc h, N a v al Avi ati o n h as l e ar n e d a l ot a b o ut h o w t o o p er at e i n f ar s e as c o n diti o ns f or l e n gt h y p eri o ds of ti m e. F or e x a m pl e, i n M arc h , a w ars hi p o p er ati n g u n d er N A T O s O p er ati o n O p e n S hi el d ( O O S) pr o vi d e d h elic o pt er g u nfire assist a nc e t o a U S w ars hi p w or ki n g u n d er C T F t o arrest a gr o u p of pir at es att e m pti n g a hij ac k N a v al A vi ati o n C o m bi n e d- Ar m s, J oi nt, a n d C o m bi n e d Tr ai ni n g T his s ecti o n a d dress es N a v al Avi ati o n c o m bi n e d- ar ms tr ai ni n g wit h t h e ot h er P L A N a v y br a nc h es, j oi nt tr ai ni n g wit h t h e P L A A F, a n d c o m bi n e d tr ai ni n g wit h f or ei g n milit ari es. It als o bri efl y disc uss es fl yi n g m ulti pl e t y p es of aircr aft fr o m t h e s a m e airfi el d f or w h at t h e P L A als o c o nsi d ers j oi nt o p er ati o ns. O n e of t h e bi g g est c h all e n g es, h o w e v er, is t er mi n ol o g y. Acc or di n g t o t h e U. S. D e p art m e nt of D ef e ns e Dicti o n ar y of Milit ar y a n d Ass oci at e d Ter ms ( J P 1-0 2): C o m bi ne d ar ms refers t o t he f ull i nte grati o n a n d a p plicati o n of t w o or m ore ar ms or ele me nts of o ne Ser vice i nt o a n o perati o n (J P 3-1 8) 3 9

55 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S J oi nt c o n n ot es acti viti es, o p er ati o ns, or g a ni z ati o ns, etc., i n w hic h el e m e nts of t w o or m ore Milit ar y D e p art m e nts p artici p at e ( J P 1) C o m bi n e d is a t er m i d e ntif yi n g t w o or m or e f orc es or a g e nci es of t w o or m ore alli es o p er ati n g t o g et h er ( J P 3-1 6). U nf ort u n at el y, alt h o u g h t h e P L A us es c o m bi n e d ar ms ( 合成 / 合同 ) f or t w o or m or e br a nc h es i n t h e s a m e s er vic e, it us es t h e t er m j oi nt ( 联合 ) t o e x press e ac h of t h e t hree c at e g ori es c o m bi n e d ar ms, j oi nt, a n d c o m bi n e d. T h eref ore, f or p ur p os es of t his p a p er, t h e U. S. milit ar y e q ui v al e nt will b e us e d f or e ac h c at e g or y. C o m bi ne d- Ar ms Tr ai ni n g wit h ot her N a v al Br a nc hes I n M a y , t h e N S F c o n d uct e d a c o m bi n e d- ar ms n a v al a vi ati o n a n d s urf ac e v ess el e x ercis e o v er t h e Yell o w S e a a n d B o h ai S e a. T h e e x ercis e i ncl u d e d o v er 7 0 aircr aft, i ncl u di n g fi g ht ers, fi g ht er- b o m b ers, a n d A E W a n d rec o n n aiss a nc e aircr aft, fr o m t hr e e pr o vi nc es a n d i n v ol v e d m ore t h a n s orti es o v er a t hreed a y p eri o d st arti n g at h o urs o n t h e first d a y A E W a n d r ec o n n aiss a nc e aircr aft d et ect e d, i d e ntifi e d, a n d tr ac k e d t ar g ets a n d g ui d e d fi g ht er- b o m b ers f or stri k es a g ai nst s hi p f or m ati o ns a n d p orts, a n d g ui d e d fi g ht ers a g ai nst a eri al t ar g ets a n d v ess els. W hil e t h e fi g ht ers c o n d uct e d t h eir att ac ks a g ai nst v ess els a n d s e p ar at el y i nt erc e pt e d e n e m y fi g ht ers i n t h e B o h ai S e a, t h e fi g ht er- b o m b ers c o n d uct e d t h eir b o m b stri k es i n t h e Yell o w S e a, b ot h of w hic h occ urre d i n a c o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nt creat e d b y t h e e n e m y v ess els. U p o n l a n di n g, t h e aircr aft w ere q uic kl y i ns p ect e d a n d ref u el e d b ef ore t a ki n g off a g ai n f or a f oll o w- o n stri k e t h at l ast e d u ntil aft er h o urs e ac h d a y. W hil e f o ur air u nits c arri e d o ut tr ai ni n g fr o m d a yti m e t o ni g htti m e, t w o air u nits e x ec ut e d fli g hts aft er mi d ni g ht. D uri n g t h e e x ercis e, s e v er al d estr o yers e q ui p p e d wit h h elic o pt ers w ere als o i n v ol v e d, i n t h e Yell o w S e a. H o w e v er, t his e x ercis e w as diff er e nt fr o m pr e vi o us o n es, b ec a us e t h e h elic o pt er pil ots w ere all n e w. As s uc h, f o ur pil ots w ere assi g n e d t o l a n d o n a 4 0

56 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) s hi p f or t h e first ti m e. Alt o g et h er, t h e y c o m pl et e d s orti es a n d e ac h pil ot c o n d uct e d 4 5 s hi p l a n di n gs. O n 1 6 S e pt e m b er , N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht er- b o m b ers a n d n a v al v ess els c o n d uct e d a d a yti m e c o m bi n e d- ar ms li v e-f orc e n a v al mi n e w arf are drill i d e ntifi e d as Br a v er y ( 勇敢 ) i n t h e Yell o w S e a T h e Bl u e F orc e, pl a ye d b y t w o d estr o yers, s et u p a n a nti-s u b m ari n e bl oc k a d e are a, w aiti n g f or a n o p p ort u nit y t o d estr o y a R e d F orc e s u b m ari n e. To c o u nt er t his, t h e R e d F orc e s e nt f o ur fi g ht er- b o m b ers di vi d e d i nt o t w o f or m ati o ns at l o w altit u d e t o l a y mi n es. T w e nt y mi n ut es l at er, t h e first gr o u p of c o m b at aircr aft s ucc essf ull y dr o p p e d t w o n e w- m o d el n a v al mi n es i nt o t h e d esi g n at e d s e a area; h o w e v er, t h e d estr o yers als o l a u nc h e d s urf ac e- t o- air missil es a g ai nst t h e aircr aft at t h e s a m e ti m e. Alt h o u g h t h e b attl e w as sc h e d ul e d f or t w o h o urs, it l ast e d s e v e n h o urs. O n t h e n e xt d a y, t h e sc e n ari o b e g a n at h o urs a n d i n v ol v e d n a v al mi n es w e e p ers eli mi n ati n g mi n es t h at t h e e n e m y v ess els h a d l ai d. I n t h e e arl y wi nt er of , N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht ers, b o m b ers, a n d A E W aircr aft t e a m e d u p wit h a f or m ati o n c o m pris e d of P L A N d estr o yers a n d fri g at es i n t h e Yell o w S e a t o c o n d uct a R e d vs Bl u e c o nfr o nt ati o n e x ercis e u n d er u n k n o w n c o n diti o ns, i n m ulti di m e nsi o n al s p ac e, a n d i n a c o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nt T hr o u g h o ut t h e e x ercis e, t h e aircr aft s h uttl e d b ac k a n d f ort h a n d at ot h er ti m es circl e d ar o u n d a w aiti n g or d ers. T hr o u g h o ut t h e e x ercis e, t h e R e d F orc e A E W aircr aft w as i m pl e m e nti n g real-ti m e e arl y w ar ni n g d et ecti o n of t h e air sit u ati o n i n t h e gi v e n re gi o n. T h e air b or n e c o m m a n d er o n t h e A E W aircr aft w as Z h a n g Xi n qi ( 张新起 ), disc uss e d i n S ecti o n 6. Wit hi n t h e rear c o m p art m e nt of t h e aircr aft, v ari o us o p er ati o n al el e m e nts w ere q uic kl y tr a ns mitti n g air sit u ati o n i nf or m ati o n a n al ysis a n d j u d g m e nts asc ert ai n e d fr o m t h e o n b o ar d e q ui p m e nt b ac k t o t h e l a n d- b as e d c o m m a n d p ost. W h e n t h e A E W aircr aft b e g a n t o s uff er el ectr o m a g n etic j a m mi n g of its r a d ar a n d c o m m u nic ati o ns, c o m m u nic ati o ns p ers o n n el i m pl e m e nt e d fr e q u e nc y- h o p pi n g a n d fre q u e nc y-c h a n gi n g pr oc e d ur es, a n d 4 1

57 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S el ectr o nic c o u nt er m e as ures p ers o n n el c arri e d o ut a nti-j a m mi n g s u p pressi o n. S e v er al mi n ut es l at er, e v er yt hi n g ret ur n e d t o n or m al, b ut j a m mi n g i m m e di at el y bl oc k e d all l a n d- b as e d r a d ar s yst e ms a n d c o m m u nic ati o ns wit h t h e l a n d- b as e d c o m m a n d p ost. As a r es ult, t h e A E W aircr aft s u d d e nl y b ec a m e a n air b or n e c o m m a n d p ost. Z h a n g Xi n qi t h e n iss u e d or d ers t o o n e of t h e fi g ht er f or m ati o ns t o d esc e n d t o l o w altit u d e, i m pl e m e nt r a di o sil e nc e, m a n e u v er t o a c ert ai n airs p ac e, a n d t h e n t o i nt erc e pt a n d att ac k t h e t ar g et. It t o o k 1 7 mi n ut es fr o m t h e ti m e t h e j a m mi n g b e g a n u ntil Z h a n g or d ere d t h e aircr aft t o att ac k. D uri n g A u g ust , t h e S S F c o n d uct e d a c o m bi n e d- ar ms tr ai ni n g drill i n v ol vi n g s urf ac e v ess els a n d N a v al Avi ati o n T h e sc e n ari o c e nt er e d o n si n ki n g a Bl u e F orc e c ar g o s hi p a n d h e a vil y d a m a gi n g t h e d estr o yer a n d fri g at e t h at w ere esc orti n g it. W hil e A E W aircr aft g ui d e d t h e fi g ht er- b o m b ers a n d b o m b ers t o w ar d t h e t ar g et, Bl u e F orc e aircr aft w ere als o scr a m bli n g t o e n g a g e t h e m. As a res ult, t h e R e d F orc e scr a m bl e d its o w n fi g ht ers t o pr o vi d e esc ort f or t h e A E W aircr aft. M e a n w hil e, b ot h si d es e n g a g e d i n j a m mi n g a n d c o u nt er-j a m mi n g, a n d t h e Bl u e F orc e l a u nc h e d missil es at t h e R e d F orc e aircr aft. I n t h e e n d, t h e R e d F orc e s a n k t h e c ar g o s hi p, o n e d estr o yer, a n d o n e fri g at e, a n d t h e missi o n w as acc o m plis h e d s atisf act oril y. I n l at e Oct o b er , a n u n k n o w n n u m b er of J- 1 1s fr o m t h e S S F s 8t h Air Di visi o n al o n g wit h u ni d e ntifi e d P L A N s urf ac e v ess els a n d p ossi bl y ot h er aircr aft c o n d uct e d a n e x ercis e o v er t h e S o ut h C hi n a S e a i n res p o ns e t o U. S. n a v al acti viti es i n t h e area B as e d o n a v ail a bl e p h ot os, t h e J- 1 1s a p p ar e ntl y d e pl o ye d t o W o o d y Isl a n d ( a k a Yo n g xi n g Isl a n d) i n t h e Par ac els f or a n u n k n o w n p eri o d. I n a d diti o n, i n l at e Fe br u ar y , U. S. i nt elli g e nc e s p ott e d J- 1 1s a n d J H- 7 s o n W o o d y Isl a n d J oi nt Tr ai ni n g wit h t he Ar m y a n d Air Force T h e P L A N N a v al Avi ati o n a p p e ars t o b e i ncr e asi n g its j oi nt tr ai ni n g wit h t h e P L A Ar m y a n d Air F orc e. I n e arl y S e pt e m b er 4 2

58 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) , w ar pl a n es a n d v ess els fr o m t h e E S F c o n d uct e d a j oi nt isl a n d l a n di n g c a m p ai g n tr ai ni n g e v e nt wit h aircr aft fr o m t h e N a nji n g M R A F T h e tr ai ni n g w as t h e c ul mi n ati o n of 1 2 ye ars of j oi nt i nt er acti o n b et w e e n P L A N s urf ac e w arf ar e offic ers a n d n a v al a vi ati o n p ers o n n el, as w ell as wit h P L A A F p ers o n n el. W h e n t h e e v e nt kic k e d off, t h e E S F N a v al Avi ati o n c o m m a n d er, R e ar A d mir al S u n L ais h e n, iss u e d or d ers t hr o u g h t h e i nt e gr at e d c o m b at c o m m a n d pl atf or m i n Z h eji a n g Pr o vi nc e. C o m b at aircr aft of diff ere nt m o d els s u b or di n at e t o N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F s u bs e q u e ntl y t o o k off i n m ulti pl e b atc h es, f or m e d f or m ati o ns, a n d m a d e a r us h m a n e u v er t o a d esti n ati o n kil o m et ers a w a y. T his c as e s et a prec e d e nt f or a P L A N- dir ect e d h y bri d gr o u pi n g of c o m b at aircr aft fr o m diff ere nt s er vic es as w ell as s urf ac e v ess els. Al o n g t h e c o ast of F uji a n Pr o vi nc e, s urf ac e u nits of t h e fl e et f o u g ht si d e- b y-si d e wit h u nits fr o m diff er e nt w ar t h e at ers i n a j oi nt isl a n d-l a n di n g o p er ati o n drill. S e ni or C a pt ai n Ji n H a n g, c o m m a n d er of t h e 5t h L a n di n g S hi p Z hi d ui, w as i n c o m m a n d of a t hr e e- di m e nsi o n al l a n di n g o p er ati o n, w hic h w as s e e n as a n e pit o m e of t h e d e v el o p m e nt f urt h er i n d e pt h of t h e j oi nt o p er ati o n p att er n o v er a 1 2- ye ar p eri o d. Fr o m 5 t o 7 A u g ust , t he P L A N s Qi n g da o S u p p ort Base s uccessf ull y le d researc h a n d trai ni n g d uri n g a n e xercise i n j uris dicti o nal area j oi nt defe nsive o perati o ns i n a n area of t he Yell o w S ea off of Li ao ni ng Pr o vi nce T his was j ust t he ne xt ste p i n a pr ocess t hat be ga n i n T he trai ni n g e ve nt i nv ol ve d t he S he nya n g T heater C o m ma n d (e. g., S he nya n g Militar y Re gi o n) 1 1 3, a n electr o nic c o u nter meas ures re gi me nt s u b or di nate t o t he 3 9t h Gr o u p Ar my, f o ur air bri ga des s u b or di nate t o t he P L A A F s Dalia n Base, a S he nya n g M R A F ra dar bri ga de, a n d N S F fri gate a n d Naval Aviati o n u nits, as well as p olice a n d militia f orces. T he c o m ma n d p ost at Qi n g da o i ncl u de d re prese ntatives fr o m eac h c o m p o ne nt. T he sce nari o f oc use d o n defe n di n g a gai nst e ne my attac ks by c o n d ucti n g i nterce pts, e xec uti n g a circ uit o us attac k, a n d j oi ntl y bl oc ki n g a n d destr oyi n g a ny e ne my s urface a n d s u bs urface vessels. T he Naval Aviati o n assets i ncl u de d fi g hters f or air i nterce pts a n d t w o A E W aircraft, as well as s hi p b or ne helic o pters f or a nti-s u b mari ne tas ks. 4 3

59 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S Alt h o u g h N a v al Avi ati o n a n d P L A A F A E W a n d I S R aircr aft a p p are ntl y o p er at e occ asi o n all y i n t h e s a m e A O R, s uc h as t h e E ast C hi n a S e a, n o i nf or m ati o n w as f o u n d a b o ut N a v al Avi ati o n a n d P L A A F fi g ht ers, fi g ht er- b o m b ers, or b o m b ers w or ki n g t o g et h er j oi ntl y a g ai nst t h e s a m e t ar g et; h o w e v er, t h e f oll o wi n g t w o it e ms disc uss o p p ositi o n-f orc e tr ai ni n g wit h si mil ar a n d dissi mil ar aircr aft t h at b e g a n i n O n S at ur d a y, 2 3 A u g ust , t h e E S F 4t h Air Di visi o n s 1 0t h Air R e gi m e nt, i d e ntifi e d e arli er as t h e N a v al Avi ati o n H er oic E a gl e R e gi m e nt a n d o nl y d e dic at e d Bl u e F orc e fe n d ui, c o n d uct e d N a v al Avi ati o n s first e v er j oi nt free air c o m b at o p p ositi o n-f orc e tr ai ni n g wit h t h e Air F orc e B ot h si d es fl e w o ut of a P L A A F b as e. W h ereas t h e P L A A F us e d t h e C hi n es e- pr o d uc e d J- 1 1, t h e E a gl e R e gi m e nt us e d t h e S u- 3 0 M K 2 t o e n g a g e i n 1 v 1 a n d 2 v 2 fr e e air c o m b at at diff ere nt altit u d es. T h e u ni d e ntifi e d Air F orc e u nit w as t h e first o n e t o r ec ei v e t h e J- 1 1 a n d h a d c o m p et e d i n t h e a n n u al G ol d e n H el m et c o m p etiti o n fr o m o n w ar ds. N a v al Avi ati o n s pil ots re pres e nt e d t h e Bl u e F orc e a n d t h e P L A A F pil ots fr o m a n u ni d e ntifi e d u nit i n t h e N a nji n g M R A F re pres e nt e d t h e R e d F orc e. T h e first e v e nt b e g a n at h o urs w h e n t w o aircr aft s q u are d off i n 1 v 1 free air c o m b at. T h e t w o N a v al Avi ati o n pil ots i ncl u d e d E a gl e R e gi m e nt c o m m a n d er C h e n G a n g i n t h e fr o nt s e at a n d d e p ut y r e gi m e nt c o m m a n d er Fa n We nj u n i n t h e rear s e at. T h e t w o Air F orc e pil ots i ncl u d e d d e p ut y r e gi m e nt c o m m a n d er Ya n Fe n g i n t h e fr o nt s e at a n d fli g ht gr o u p c o m m a n d er Wa n g Li i n t h e r e ar s e at. Ya n a n d Wa n g h a d c o m p et e d t o g et h er i n t h e G ol d e n H el m et c o m p etiti o n, a n d Ya n is o n e of o nl y t hree pil ots w h o h a v e w o n t h e a w ar d t wic e fr o m t hr o u g h I n t h e e n d, C h e n a n d Fa n, w h o tr ai n e d f or t his e v e nt f or fi v e m o nt hs, w o n t h e e n g a g e m e nt b y usi n g cl o u ds as c o v er a n d fir e d a missil e fr o m b e hi n d. Alt h o u g h t h e e n g a g e m e nt w as fr e e air c o m b at, b ot h aircr aft r ec ei v e d v ect ori n g vi a d at a li n k fr o m t h eir r es p ecti v e gr o u n d- b as e d c o m m a n d p osts. F oll o wi n g t his e n g a g e m e nt, ot h er pil ots t h e n c o n d uct e d 2 v 2 i nt erc e pts. All i nt erc e pts als o i ncl u d e d j a m mi n g a n d c o u nt er-j a m mi n g. 4 4

60 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) Fi n all y, o n 2 N o v e m b er , t h e G u a n g z h o u M R A F or g a ni z e d t h e S h ar p S w or d ( 利剑 ) act u al-c o m b at j oi nt e x ercis e o v er t h e S o ut h C hi n a S e a t h at i ncl u d e d P L A A F a n d N a v al Avi ati o n fi g ht ers, fi g ht er- b o m b ers, b o m b ers, air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g a n d c o ntr ol aircr aft, rec o n n aiss a nc e aircr aft, a n d h elic o pt ers T h e pri m ar y u nits i n v ol v e d G u a n g z h o u M R A F a n d N a v al S S F u nits. T h e o nl y s p ecific aircr aft t h at w ere i d e ntifi e d w ere P L A A F H- 6 K b o m b ers a n d J- 1 1s. Acc or di n g t o R e ar A d mir al Yi n Z h u o ( 尹卓 ), w h o is t h e Dir ect or of t h e P L A N I nf or m ati z ati o n E x p ert A d vis or y C o m mitt e e, t h e P L A A F h as l o n g ass u m e d t h e res p o nsi bilit y of h o m el a n d d ef e ns e. It m ai nl y att ac ks fi x e d t ar g ets o n t h e gr o u n d a n d is n ot f a mili ar wit h sit u ati o ns at s e a. N a v y Avi ati o n u nits ar e m ai nl y res p o nsi bl e f or stri ki n g m ore el usi v e t ar g ets m o vi n g at s e a. O wi n g t o m a n y s p eci al c o n diti o ns, s uc h as c o m pl e x w e at h er, i n disti n g uis h a bl e s e a a n d s k y li n es, a n d t h e li k e, it is m uc h m ore diffic ult t o i d e ntif y t ar g ets at s e a. T h es e ar e e x actl y t h e ar e as f alli n g s h ort i n P L A A F e x p eri e nc es. T hr o u g h j oi nt o p er ati o n e x ercis es, t h e Air F orc e g ets t o k n o w t h e c o m b at e n vir o n m e nts at s e a b ett er. F urt h er m ore, wit h t h e s u p p ort of t h e Air F orc e, N a v al Avi ati o n will b e a bl e t o s ei z e c o m m a n d of t h e air ( 制空权 ) o v er a l ar g e ar e a m or e e asil y i n ti m es of w ar. S p ecific all y, S ei zi n g c o m m a n d of t h e air is t h e first t hi n g t o d o i n a n y w ar. O nl y w h e n o n e h as c o m m a n d of t h e air, c a n its aircr aft c arri er, l ar g e-si z e d d estr o yers, a n d s u b m ari n es gi v e pl a y t o t h eir tre m e n d o us c a p a biliti es t o att ac k s e a b or n e a n d gr o u n d t ar g ets S u m m ar y W h ereas t h e P L A A F is c o n d ucti n g i ncreasi n g c o m bi n e d- ar ms, j oi nt, a n d c o m bi n e d tr ai ni n g, N a v al Avi ati o n is c o nsi d er a bl y b e hi n d i n j oi nt a n d c o m bi n e d tr ai ni n g. Its pri m ar y c o m bi n e d- ar ms tr ai ni n g i n v ol v es h elic o pt ers a n d s urf ac e v ess els. As n ot e d i n t h e s ecti o n, it h as o nl y rec e ntl y b e g u n t o c o n d uct j oi nt tr ai ni n g, m ost of w hic h is o p p ositi o n-f orc e tr ai ni n g, wit h t h e P L A A F. 4 5

61 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S Alt h o u g h t h e P L A A F a n d N a v al Avi ati o n h a v e c o n d uct e d s o m e j oi nt tr ai ni n g, o nl y o n e e x a m pl e f or a n d w as f o u n d, w hic h i m pli es t h e y d o n ot r o uti n el y tr ai n t o g et h er or a g ai nst e ac h ot h er. F urt h er m or e, t h e c o m p etiti o n b et w e e n t h e N a v al Avi ati o n a n d P L A A F pil ots cl e arl y i n dic at es t h e y tr ai n e d f or s e v er al m o nt hs f or a si n gl e e v e nt, w hic h m ost li k el y t o o k a w a y fr o m t h eir m e eti n g all of t h eir a n n u al re q uire m e nts. 4 6

62 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) 3. C a r ri e r- b a s e d A vi ati o n Tr ai ni n g a n d D e v el o p m e nt P L A N a v y C a r ri e r- b a s e d A vi ati o n Tr ai ni n g a n d D e v el o p m e nt O n 2 5 S e pt e m b er , C hi n a c o m missi o n e d i nt o s er vic e its first aircr aft c arri er -- t h e Li ao ni n g ( h ull n u m b er 1 6) -- a v ess el t h at C hi n a p urc h as e d fr o m U kr ai n e as a n u nfi nis h e d s hi p i n a n d l at er ref ur bis h e d at t h e D ali a n S hi p y ar d i n Li a o ni n g Pr o vi nc e As of t his writi n g, it is n ot cl e ar e x actl y w hic h fl e et or w hic h l e a d ergr a d e hi er arc h y t h e Li a o ni n g is s u b or di n at e t o. M ore t h a n li k el y, it is dir ectl y s u b or di n at e t o t h e O p er ati o ns D e p art m e nt i n t h e P L A N H e a d q u art ers H e a d q u art ers D e p art m e nt i n B eiji n g. T h e c o m missi o ni n g of a n aircr aft c arri er h as t h e c a p acit y t o i m p art a n e w di m e nsi o n of n a v al a n d n a v al a vi ati o n c a p a biliti es f or C hi n a. A n aircr aft c arri er, f or e x a m pl e, gi v es t h e P L A N t h e a bilit y t o o p er at e f ar fr o m C hi n a s s h or es t o pr ot ect o v ers e as ass ets a n d i nt erests. If hist or y is a n y g ui d e, h o w e v er, t h e pr oc ess of h o ni n g t h e s kills n ec ess ar y t o u n d ert a k e s ust ai n e d c arri er o p er ati o ns will b e a l o n g a n d ar d u o us pr oc ess wit h m a n y c h all e n g es a h e a d f or t h e P L A N T h e Li a o ni n g is a c o n v e nti o n all y- p o w er e d c arri er wit h a n esti m at e d f ull l o a d dis pl ac e m e nt of 6 0, t o ns a n d c a n acc o m m o d at e a n e v e nt u al air wi n g of 2 5 t o 3 0 aircr aft, i ncl u di n g fi x e d- wi n g air pl a n es a n d h elic o pt ers T h e Li ao ni n g us es a S T O B A R (s h ort t a k e- off b ut arrest e d rec o v er y) s yst e m f or l a u nc hi n g a n d rec o v eri n g aircr aft, w hic h s e v erel y restricts t h e w ei g ht of aircr aft b ef or e l a u nc h, w hic h i n t ur n li mits t h e f u el a n d or d n a nc e l o a d t h at a n aircr aft c a n c arr y. B y c o m p aris o n, t h e U S S NI MI T Z is a 1 0 0, t o n, n ucl e ar- p o w er e d aircr aft c arri er, gi vi n g it gr e at er e n d ur a nc e t h a n t h e Li ao ni n g, a n d c a n acc o m m o d at e a n air wi n g of 6 0 fi x e d a n d r ot ar y 4 7

63 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S wi n g aircr aft. T h e NI MI T Z l a u nc h es its fi x e d- wi n g aircr aft o v er b ot h t h e s hi p s b o w a n d a n gl e d d ec k usi n g a C A T O B A R (c at a p ult assist e d t a k e- off b ut arr est e d r ec o v er y) s yst e m, gi vi n g aircr aft b ei n g l a u nc h e d fr o m it a r a n g e a n d p a yl o a d c a p a bilit y m uc h great er t h a n aircr aft e m pl o yi n g a S T O B A R s yst e m. T h e Li ao ni n g, li k e a U. S. N a v y aircr aft c arri er, l a n ds fi x e d- wi n g aircr aft usi n g arresti n g wires o n its a n gl e d d ec k. T h us, e v e n w h e n f ull y o p er ati o n al, t h e Li ao ni n g will n ot e n a bl e l o n g-r a n g e p o w er pr oj ecti o n si mil ar t o U. S. Ni mit z-cl ass c arri ers. T h e Li ao ni n g s s m all er si z e li mits t h e n u m b er of aircr aft it c a n e m b ar k, w hil e t h e s ki-j u m p c o nfi g ur ati o n r estricts f u el a n d or d n a nc e l o a d. T h e Li ao ni n g is t h eref ore b est s uit e d t o fl e et air d ef e ns e a n d a nti-s u b m ari n e w arf are missi o ns, e xt e n di n g air c o v er o v er a fl e et o p er ati n g f ar fr o m l a n d- b as e d c o v er a g e a n d is m ost li k el y a st art er c arri er m e a nt t o tr ai n pil ots a n d cr e ws f or s u bs e q u e nt aircr aft c arri ers t h e P L A N pl a ns t o c o nstr uct A vi ati o n Tr ai ni n g f or C arri er O p er ati o n s Si nc e t h e s yst e m f or tr ai ni n g C hi n es e pil ots i n c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n is r el ati v el y n e w i n C hi n a, t h e i nstit uti o ns wit hi n t h e P L A N ori e nt e d t o w ar ds c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g r e m ai n u n d er d e v el o p e d a n d e v ol vi n g F or t h e Li ao ni n g, it a p p e ars t h e P L A N s el ect e d t h e m ost s e as o n e d pil ots wit hi n t h e N a v al Avi ati o n c or ps as t h e first gr o u p of pil ots t o u n d er g o c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g. G oi n g f or w ar d, t h e P L A N will, i n all li k eli h o o d, a d o pt a l o n g-t er m a p pr o ac h of r ecr uiti n g c a d ets a n d b uil di n g a c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n c or ps fr o m t h e gr o u n d u p. G e n er all y s p e a ki n g, t here are t hree st a ges of c arrier- b ase d a vi ati o n e d uc ati o n a n d tr ai ni n g t h at n a v al a vi ati o n pil ots ar o u n d t h e w orl d m ust pr oc e e d t hr o u g h: 1) pil ot tr ai nee s electi o n, 2) pre- o per ati o n al c arri er- a vi ati o n e d uc ati o n a n d tr ai ni n g, a n d 3) c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g a n d o per ati o ns. C o ncer ni n g P L A Na v al Avi ati o n aircr aft c arri er pil ots, c a d ets m ust g o t hr o u g h a ri g or o us pr oc ess of t h e oretic al 4 8

64 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) st u d y at t he Na v al Avi ati o n E n gi n e eri n g Ac a de m y a n d Na v al Avi ati o n Ac a de m y a n d recei ve t heir b ac hel or s de gree bef ore tr a nsiti o ni n g t o t he pr actic al a p plic ati o n ( 实际操练 ) p h as e of l a n d- b as e d tr ai ni n g as a ne w officer O nce l a n d- b ase d tr ai ni n g h as bee n m astere d, t he ne w pil ot tr ai nees tr a nsiti o n t o c arri er- b ase d tr ai ni n g, w hic h be gi ns t h e s ec o n d st a ge of pre- o per ati o n al c arri er- a vi ati o n e d uc ati o n a n d tr ai ni n g. T his st a ge i n v ol ves fiel d c arrier l a n di n g pr actic e ( F C L P), ( t o uc h- a n d- g o s o n l a n d) a n d e ve nt u all y l a n di n gs a n d t a ke- offs fr o m t he dec k of t he aircr aft c arrier. T his st a ge is c alle d pre- o per ati o n al bec a use tr ai ni n g occ urs bef ore t he aircr aft c arrier is f ull y o per ati o n al a n d bef ore a n air wi n g is assi g ne d t o t he c arrier. As of t his writi n g, it a p pears t h at t he c urre nt b atc h of C hi n es e c arri er- b as e d a vi at ors h as pr o gresse d t hr o u g h t he sec o n d st a ge of pre- o per ati o n al c arriera vi ati o n e d uc ati o n a n d tr ai ni n g a n d h a ve j ust be g u n t he t hir d st a ge of c arrier- b ase d a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g a n d o per ati o ns. Acc or di n g t o t he P L A N, t he t hir d st a ge of c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g a n d o p er ati o ns c o nsists of pil ot tr ai ni n g u p o n assi g n me nt t o a c arrier- b or ne a vi ati o n u nit ( 舰载航空兵部队 ) t h at is p art of a n aircr aft c arri er b attle gr o u p ( 航母编队 ) As s uc h, c arrier- b ase d a vi ati o n o p er ati o ns i ncl u de tr ai ni n g acr oss a r a n ge of t actic al a n d o p er ati o n al sce n ari os, t o i ncl u de e mer ge nc y l a n di n gs, ni g htti m e fl yi n g, c o m m a n d a n d c o ntr ol wit h t h e c arri er b attl e gr o u p- b as e d a n d air b or ne earl y w ar ni n g- b ase d c o m m a n ders, air def e nse pe netr ati o n, a n d fl yi n g d uri n g a d vers e weat h er c o n diti o ns, a m o n g ot h er t as ks. T his st a ge of pil ot de vel o p me nt c a n l ast dec a des a n d ex p oses n a v al a vi at ors t o all f or ms of o p er ati o n al a n d weat her-rel ate d c h alle n ges he or s he m a y e nc o u nter. B as e d o n re p orti n g fr o m Re n mi n H aij u n a n d Ko n gj u n B ao, C hi n a s n a v al a n d air f orce ne ws p a pers, it h as t a ke n r o u g hl y te n ye ars fr o m i niti al recr uiti n g of c arri er- b as e d a vi at ors f or C hi n a t o s ucc essf ull y de pl oy a n air wi n g-si z e d c o h ort of pil ots f or c arrier o per ati o ns. T his a p pears t o be a rel ati vel y ex pe dite d ti meli ne of tr ai ni n g, c o m p are d t o t h e U S n a v y e x perie nce, w hic h t o o k m uc h l o n ger t o tr ai n a n d d e pl oy its first cr o p of pil ots f or c arrier o per ati o ns

65 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S T h e first st e p i n C hi n a s c arri er- b as e d a vi at or s el ecti o n a n d tr ai ni n g c o m m e nc e d i n S e pt e m b er , w h e n t h e P L A N s el ect e d c a n di d at es fr o m t h e b est fl yi n g u nits acr oss t h e c o u ntr y T h e c h os e n pil ots h a d m ore t h a n 1, h o urs of fli g ht ti m e u n d er t h eir b elts, i ncl u di n g m or e t h a n h o urs i n a t hir d- g e n er ati o n aircr aft Of t his gr o u p, o n e-t hir d c a m e fr o m t h e P L A N s N a v al Avi ati o n H er oic E a gl es R e gi m e nt ( 海空雄鹰团 ), o n e of C hi n a s m ost st ori e d a vi ati o n u nits, wit h r o ots d ati n g b ac k t o O n e Re n mi n H aij u n articl e, w hic h f e at ure d t h e H er oic E a gl es tr ai ni n g pr o gr a m f or c arri er- b as e d tr ai ni n g, st at e d t h at t h e u nit b e g a n tri als i n J- 1 1 B- v ari a nt tr ai n ers f or r o u g hl y f o ur ye ars u ntil t h e P L A N i ntr o d uc e d t h e c arri er- b as e d J- 1 5 v ari a nt, c all e d t h e fl yi n g s h ar k ( 飞鲨 ), i n M arc h Acc or di n g t o C hi n es e m e di a re p orts, b et w e e n , pil ots r e p ort e dl y u n d ert o o k gr e atl y acc el er at e d l a n d- b as e d tr ai ni n g i n or d er t o b e gi n c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n tri als, at t h at ti m e s et t o t a k e pl ac e ar o u n d t h e e n d of O n e Re n mi n H aij u n articl e n ot e d t h at pil ots a v er a g e d f ort y fli g hts a m o nt h, fl yi n g t w e nt y- o n e d a ys a m o nt h, a n d ac hi e v e d o v er 8, l a n d- b as e d t a k e- offs a n d l a n di n gs i n t ot al d uri n g t h e t w o- ye ar stretc h Alt h o u g h t h e e x act d at e is u nc ert ai n, pil ots a p p e ar t o h a v e b e g u n a s eri es of t o uc h- a n d- g o s e a tri als o n t h e d ec k of t h e Li ao ni n g n e ar t h e e n d of t h e l a n d- b as e d s e g m e nt of tr ai ni n g, m ost li k el y at t h e b e gi n ni n g of , i n pr e p ar ati o n f or C hi n a s first arrest e d-rec o v er y l a n di n g a b o ar d a c arri er. T h e n o n t h e m or ni n g of 2 3 N o v e m b er , D ai Mi n g m e n g ( 戴明盟 ) b ec a m e t h e first C hi n es e pil ot t o s ucc essf ull y l a n d a n aircr aft o n a n aircr aft c arri er i n t h e B o h ai S e a D ai s s ucc essf ul l a n di n g i niti at e d t h e fi n al c o m p o n e nt of preo p er ati o n al c arri er- a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g c arri er- b as e d tr ai ni n g occ urri n g fr o m D ec e m b er t o t h e e n d of B as e d o n C hi n es e re p orti n g, it a p p e ars s e a tri als i n v ol vi n g a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g of J- 1 5 fi g ht ers t o o k pl ac e t w o t o t hree ti m es a ye ar o n a v er a g e, i n v ol vi n g f o ur t o si x J- 1 5 fi g ht ers, wit h e ac h s ucc essi v e tri al i ncr e asi n g i n i nt e nsit y, diffic ult y of tr ai ni n g t as ks, a n d n u m b er of s orti es. 5 0

66 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) Fi g u r e 1 1: P r e- o p e r ati o n al J-1 5 T a k e s Off Fr o m L a n d- b a s e d S ki J u m p R u n w a y D u ri n g Tr ai ni n g S o urce: htt p:// bl o gs. pl y m o ut h. ac. u k/ dcss/ w p-c o nte nt/ u pl o a ds/sites/ 5 0/ / 0 9/ xl ar ge _J- 1 5 _ LI A - O NI N G.j p g T he yello w p ai nt i n dic ates pre-o per atio n al st at us of t he aircr aft. Fi g u r e 1 2: O p e r ati o n al J-1 5 T a k e s Off Fr o m Li a o ni n g D u ri n g Tr ai ni n g S o urce: htt p://e n. pe o ple.c n/ n/ / /c ht ml t he aircr aft h as ac hie ve d o per atio n al st at us. T he grey p ai nt de picts t he f act t h at C hi n a s first c arri er- b or n e a vi ati o n u nit w as f or m all y est a blis h e d o n M a y 1 0, U p o n est a blis h m e nt, t h e P L A N b e g a n s e a tri als i n v ol vi n g tr ai ni n g of t h e a vi ati o n u nit. F or e x a m pl e, st arti n g o n J u n e 3 0, , f or e x a m pl e, C hi n a u n d ert o o k a 2 5- d a y tr ai ni n g d e pl o y m e nt i n t h e B o h ai S e a of t h e Li ao ni n g d uri n g w hic h pil ots e x ec ut e d s e v er al d a ys of c o nti n u o us t a k e- off a n d l a n di n g e x ercis es I m p ort a ntl y, i nst e a d of ret ur ni n g t o t h eir l a n d- b as e d airfi el ds fr o m w hic h t h e y d e p art e d, pil ots a n d t h eir pl a n es f or t h e first ti m e st a ye d a b o ar d t h e c arri er t o t est t h e a bilit y of t h e c arri er cre w, pil ots a n d m ec h a nics t o o p er at e at s e a. T h e tr ai ni n g res ult e d i n t h e c ertific ati o n ( 航母资质认证 ) of C hi n a s first gr o u p of pil ots 5 1

67 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S a n d d ec k cre w f or aircr aft c arri er o p er ati o ns I n S e pt e m b er , t h e Li ao ni n g re p ort e dl y u n d ert o o k its s ec o n d r o u n d of s e a tri als i n v ol vi n g a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g i n t h e B o h ai S e a. D uri n g t h e t ests, t h e J- 1 5 t o o k off fr o m l a n d- b as e d airfi el ds a n d pr actic e d l a n di n gs a n d t a k e- offs a b o ar d t h e c arri er at s e a. Pil ots c o m pl et e d o v er s orti es, t o i ncl u d e t a ki n g- off wit h m a xi m u m p a yl o a ds a n d m ulti- w e a p o n c o nfi g ur ati o n t a k e- offs a n d l a n di n gs Fr o m N o v e m b er t o D ec e m b er , t h e Li ao ni n g u n d ert o o k a 3 7- d a y tr ai ni n g missi o n off of H ai n a n Isl a n d, re p ort e dl y t h e first ti m e t h e Li ao ni n g h a d b e e n d e pl o ye d t o t h e S o ut h C hi n a S e a D uri n g t h e tri als, t h e Li ao ni n g re p ort e dl y u n d er w e nt a c o m pr e h e nsi v e t est of its c o m b at s yst e m a n d c o n d uct e d a f or m ati o n pr actic e, a n d t his m ar k e d t h e first ti m e t h e Li ao ni n g w as d e pl o ye d as a n aircr aft c arri er b attl e gr o u p, s h o w n b el o w, t h at c o nsist e d of s e v er al s urf ac e v ess els, i ncl u di n g t w o d estr o yers a n d t w o fri g at es, as w ell as a n u n k n o w n n u m b er of s u b m ari n es d uri n g t h e drills T h e e xt e nt of n a v al a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g w as n ot re p ort e d, h o w e v er. Fi g u r e 1 3: Li a o ni n g C a r ri e r St ri k e G r o u p E x e r ci s e S o urc e: htt p:// m e di a. ws.iri b.ir/i m a g e/ 4 b h gc 2 3 a 3f 6c 3 1s 5 g _ C j p g B y A pril , n a v al a vi ati o n tr ai ni n g a b o ar d t h e Li ao ni n g re p ort e dl y h a d bec o me r o uti ni z e d ( 模式化 ), wit h pil ots fl yi n g 5 2

68 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) i n a d vers e weat her c o n diti o ns a n d u n d ert a ki n g all t y p es of t actics tr ai ni n g, m u niti o ns l o a ds t a k e- offs, a n d e m er ge nc y l a n di n g sce n ari os Als o, d uri n g t he A pril tr ai ni n g, s e ver al J- 1 5 pil ots re p ort e dl y s pe nt m ore t h a n a f e w ni g hts a b o ar d t h e Li ao ni n g, m ar ki n g t h e l o n gest peri o d of ti me re m o ve d fr o m s h ore- b as e d l o gistics a n d s ust ai n me nt f or b ot h pil ots a n d aircr aft B y t he e n d of , t h e P L A N re p orte d it h a d s ucc essf ull y c ertifi e d a b atc h of c arri er- b ase d pil ots ( 航母资质认证 ) i n all s e g m e nts of n a v al a vi ati o n re q uire me nts, bri n gi n g a t ot al of f o ur b atc hes of si x pil ots, or 2 4 i n t ot al, t h e oretic all y tr ai n e d a n d pre p are d f or c arri er- b as e d o per ati o ns Fi n all y, fr o m D ec e m b er t hr o u g h J a n u ar y , t h e Li ao ni n g e m b ar k e d o n its l o n g est d e pl o y m e nt at s e a, p artici p ati n g i n its first c arri er b attl e gr o u p ( C V B G). T h e gr o u p first n a vi g at e d t h e B o h ai S e a b ef or e s aili n g t hr o u g h t h e E ast a n d S o ut h C hi n a S e as a n d t h e n tr a nsiti n g t hr o u g h t h e Tai w a n Str ait b ef or e r et ur ni n g t o its p ort i n Qi n g d a o D uri n g t h e v o y a g e, P L A N n a v al a vi ati o n l a u nc h e d a n d r ec o v er e d d o z e ns of J- 1 5 s orti es, t o i ncl u d e t h e l a u nc hi n g of air-t o- air a n d air-t o- gr o u n d missil es as w ell as mi d- air ref u eli n g i n t h e pr oc ess of tr ai ni n g T h e v o y a g e re pres e nt e d t h e i n d ucti o n of C hi n a s first o p er ati o n al air wi n g i nt o t h e P L A N W hil e t h ere is s p ec ul ati o n t h at a J- 3 1 v ari a nt m a y b e i ntr o d uc e d as a n e xt g e n er ati o n c arri er- b as e d fi g ht er t o re pl ac e or a u g m e nt t h e J- 1 5 Fl yi n g S h ar k, re p orti n g o n t h e J- 1 5 s e v e nt u al re pl ac e m e nt re m ai ns s p ec ul ati v e at b est U nr e s ol v e d Q u e sti o n s a n d C h all e n g e s A h e a d f or P L A N N a v al A vi ati o n To s u p p ort f ut ure c arri er c a p a biliti es, C hi n a is n o w c h all e n g e d wit h est a blis hi n g a c o m pre h e nsi v e s u p p ort i nfr astr uct ur e a n d i nstit uti o ns t o tr ai n, e q ui p a n d s ust ai n c arri er- b as e d n a v al o p er ati o ns. T h e c or oll ar y t o s uc h o p er ati o ns mi g ht b e w h at t h e U. S. N a v y r ef ers t o as N a v al a n d Air Tr ai ni n g a n d O p er ati n g Pr oc e d ur es 5 3

69 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S ( N A T O P S) It m ust d e v el o p tr ai ni n g, l o gistics, a n d m ai nt e n a nc e pi p eli n es. It m ust als o d e v el o p o p er ati o n al i nfr astr uct ur e, i ncl u di n g c o m m a n d a n d c o ntr ol. O n e Jief a n gj u n B ao ( P L A D aily) articl e hi nt e d at t h e c h all e n g es a h e a d f or C hi n a s c arri er pr o gr a m w h e n it hi g hli g ht e d t h e l o n g a n d u n gl a m or o us pr oc ess of tr ai ni n g a c a dre of c arri er- b as e d aircr aft d ec k cre w, m ec h a nics, h a n g er st or a g e o p er at ors, a n d f u el a n d a m m u niti o n o p er at ors F urt h er m ore, C hi n a h as j ust b e g u n t h e pr oc ess of est a blis hi n g t h e i nstit uti o ns n ec ess ar y t o recr uit a n d tr ai n t h e f ut ure g e n er ati o n of n a v al a vi ati o n pil ots. O n e C hi n es e articl e re v e al e d t h at t h e c urre nt r ati o b et w e e n t h e pil ots a n d aircr aft wit hi n t h e P L A N w as a b o ut 1. 5: 1 -- m e a ni n g t h at f or e v er y o n e n a v al a vi ati o n aircr aft, C hi n a h as tr ai n e d a n a v er a g e of 1. 5 pil ots t o fl y t h at aircr aft -- hi g hli g hti n g a s e v er e g a p i n t h e c urre nt g e n er ati o n of n a v al a vi at ors H o w m uc h ti m e C hi n a s n a v y d e v ot es t o tr ai ni n g l a n d- b as e d a vi at ors i n c arri er- b as e d o p er ati o ns, f or e x a m pl e, will ill ustr at e t h e e xt e nt t o w hic h C hi n a p erc ei v es c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n as a m ar gi n al or pri m ar y c o m p o n e nt of C hi n a s o v er all n a v al a vi ati o n d e v el o p m e nt, a n d t h e str at e gic v al u e of, a n d g o als f or, c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n. Gi v e n t h e l ar g e si z e of C hi n a s l a n d- b as e d t actic al n a v al a vi ati o n ar m, it is pr o b a bl y n ot pr actic al f or t h e P L A N t o r e q uire all of its fi g ht er a n d fi g ht er- b o m b er pil ots t o tr ai n as c arri er a vi at ors; b ut d et er mi ni n g t h e a p pr o pri at e r ati o of c arri er tr ai n e d v ers us n ot c arri er tr ai n e d will b e a c h all e n g e f or t h e P L A N i n t h e c o mi n g ye ars. N ot o nl y will C hi n a h a v e t o tr ai n m ore pil ots, b ut it will h a v e t o a bs or b t h e l oss es of h u n dre ds, if n ot t h o us a n ds of pil ots wit hi n t h e c o urs e of c arri er- b as e d a vi ati o n o p er ati o ns. T h e iss u e w as br o u g ht t o o ur att e nti o n i n a rec e nt ( a n d r are) Xi n h u a Ne ws re p ort w hic h r e v e al e d t h at t w o C hi n es e n a v al pil ots h a d di e d i n a tr ai ni n g acci d e nt rel at e d t o t h e Li ao ni n g T his is n o d o u bt t h e first of m a n y m ore t o c o m e f or C hi n a. B et w e e n , w h e n t h e U. S. N a v y b e g a n d e pl o yi n g j ets t o aircr aft c arri ers o n a l ar g e sc al e, a n d , f or e x a m pl e, t h e N a v y a n d M ari n e C or ps l ost al m ost 1 2, aircr aft a n d m ore t h a n 8, aircre w E v e n if C hi n a d eci d es t o a d o pt a m ore 5 4

70 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) m o d er at e p ac e of tr ai ni n g a n d o p er ati o ns, it is al m ost c ert ai n t o s uff er si g nific a nt pil ot a n d aircr aft l oss es as it b uil ds u p its c arri er c a p a bilit y. A d diti o n all y, t h e c o nc e pt of a n i nt e gr at e d C S G will i m p art n e w c h all e n g es f or t h e P L A N n ot acc ust o m e d t o tr ai ni n g a n d d e visi n g w ar pl a ns b as e d o n c arri er t as k f orc es. T h e s u p p ort a n d pr ot ecti o n of c arri ers i n v ol v e a c o m pl e x c o or di n ati o n a m o n g s u b m ari n es, s urf ac e c o m b at a nts a n d air ass ets t h at will r e q uir e a c o m pl et e re or g a ni z ati o n of t h e P L A N s or g a ni z ati o n al str uct ure. C hi n es e n a v al a vi at ors i n p artic ul ar will b e re q uire d t o c o or di n at e wit h ot h er br a nc h es a n d pl atf or ms wit hi n t h e P L A N a n d C S G t h at f or C hi n a are still v er y m uc h i n fl u x d u e t o t h e i nf a nc y of C hi n a s c arri er pr o gr a m. B as e d o n C hi n es e re p orti n g of P L A N tr ai ni n g, C hi n a h as yet t o m a n a g e t h e i ntric aci es of c o or di n ati o n wit h t h e P L A A F, s u b m ari n ers, A E W pl atf or ms, a n d wit hi n t h e l ar g er i nt e gr at e d C S G air d ef e ns e s yst e m t h at est a blis h e d n a vi es h a v e h a d d ec a d es t o w or k t hr o u g h. Fi n all y, it is n ot cl e ar h o w t h e aircr aft t h at fl y off of t h e Li ao ni n g will b e or g a ni z e d a n d w hic h l a n d- b as e d u nit t h e y will b e s u b or di n at e t o or if a w h ol e n e w str uct ur e will b e cr e at e d. It is w ort h n oti n g t h e n w h e n a U S N a v y c arri er is i n p ort i n S a n Di e g o, N orf ol k, or Bre m ert o n, its s q u a dr o ns are oft e n sc att ere d ar o u n d t h e c o u ntr y at b as es h u n dr e ds of mil es a w a y. S p ecific all y, are t h e y or g a ni z e d i nt o a t y pic al air r e gi m e nt t h at h as airfr a m es a n d f urt h er or g a ni z e d i nt o b att ali o n- gr a d e fli g ht gr o u ps a n d s u b or di n at e c o m p a n y- gr a d e fli g ht s q u a dr o ns? T h e s a m e h ol ds f or t h e s hi p b or n e h elic o pt ers. I n a d diti o n, w h er e as N a v al Avi ati o n a n d P L A A F aircr aft h a v e 5- di git t ail n u m b ers, all p h ot os of t h e c arri er- b as e d J- 1 5s s h o w t h e m wit h o nl y a 3- di git t ail n u m b er. 5 5

71 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S 4. O v e r all A s s e s s m e nt W hil e n ot c o nsi d ere d a n e x p e diti o n ar y f orc e c a p a bl e of f ar s e as o p er ati o ns, P L A N a v al Avi ati o n h as e v ol v e d fr o m its tr a diti o n al r ol e of c o ast al d ef e ns e t o b ei n g a bl e t o u n d ert a k e a br o a d er p ortf oli o of t as ks c o nsisti n g of n a v al fl e et air d ef e ns e, m ariti m e p atr ol, a ntis u b m ari n e w arf ar e, m ariti m e stri k e a g ai nst l a n d t ar g ets a n d v ess els, l o gistic al s u p p ort, air b or n e e arl y w ar ni n g, a n d h elic o pt er s u p p ort f or t h e P L A N. H o w e v er, u ntil it d e v el o ps a f ull-fl e d g e d aircr aft c arri er c a p a bilit y, t o i ncl u d e acc o m p a n yi n g s urf ac e a n d s u bs urf ac e t as k f orc es, P L A N a v al Avi ati o n is a n d will re m ai n l ar g el y a l a n d- b as e d f orc e. L a n d- b as e d n a v al a vi ati o n f orc es ar e i n h er e ntl y li mit e d b y t h e m a xi m u m r a n g e of t h e aircr aft d e pl o ye d b y t h e P L A N, w hic h, i n t ur n, li mits s o m e r ol es a n d missi o ns o n e t y pic all y e x p ects n a v al a vi ati o n fl e ets t o f ulfill. D es pit e s uc h c o nstr ai nts, P L A N a v al Avi ati o n h as st e a dil y i ncreas e d t h e t y p es, i nt e nsit y a n d sc o p e of its tr ai ni n g s u bj ects a n d sc e n ari os i n a n eff ort t o m ai nt ai n rea di n ess a n d s u p p ort br o a d er P L A N o p er ati o ns wit hi n a n d b e y o n d t h e first isl a n d c h ai n. T h es e i ncl u d e i ncr e asi n g c o m bi n e d- ar ms a n d j oi nt tr ai ni n g e x ercis es ( b ot h wit hi n t h e P L A N a n d wit h diff ere nt s er vic es of t h e C hi n es e milit ar y) fl yi n g u n d er c h all e n gi n g e n vir o n m e nt al c o n diti o ns, s uc h as at ni g ht a n d i n e xtre m e w e at h er p att er ns; fl yi n g at l o w altit u d es, fl yi n g u n d er c o m pl e x el ectr o m a g n etic e n vir o n m e nts, a n d c ulti v ati n g el e m e nts of fr e e air c o m b at a n d a ut o n o m y a m o n g n a v al a vi at ors wit h d ecr e as e d altit u d e restricti o ns; a n d c o n d ucti n g b o m b er a n d rec o n n aiss a nc e aircr aft missi o ns b e y o n d t h e first isl a n d c h ai n i n t h e West er n Pacific. T h e o v er all ai m of t h es e tr ai ni n g t as ks is t o mi mic act u al n a v al b attl e c o n diti o ns t h at a p ot e nti al milit ar y a d v ers ar y m a y pres e nt. W hil e t h e Li ao ni n g m a y n ot e n a bl e l o n g-r a n g e p o w er pr oj ecti o n c a p a biliti es si mil ar t o t h os e of U. S. c arri ers, t h e Li ao ni n g a n d its 5 6

72 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) e v e nt u al s ucc ess or c arri ers will i m p art a n alt o g et h er n e w c o m p o n e nt of n a v al a n d n a v al a vi ati o n o p er ati o ns. I n t h e s h ort t o m e di u m t er m, C hi n a will s e e k t o tr ai n a n e w g e n er ati o n of c arri er- b as e d a vi at ors, l o gistici a ns, a n d d ec k m ai nt e n a nc e p ers o n n el, w hic h, b as e d o n t h e U. S. N a v y e x p eri e nc e, will re q uire a si g nific a nt c o m mit m e nt of ti m e, m a n p o w er a n d b u d g ets. B y all acc o u nts, it a p p e ars C hi n a is c o m mitt e d t o d e v el o pi n g t his c a p a bilit y i n t h e l o n g-t er m. Alt h o u g h t his p a p er, w hic h is pri m aril y b as e d o n i nf or m ati o n fr o m t h e P L A N a v y s n e ws p a p er, p oi nts o ut s e v er al s h ortf alls t h at N a v al Avi ati o n h as i d e ntifi e d, r ar el y is t h ere a n articl e t h at st at es t h at a tr ai ni n g missi o n f ail e d. It is hi g hl y u nli k el y t h at all of t h e aircr aft t h at d e p art t o att ac k a v ess el, p ort f acilit y, or l a n d- b as e d air d ef e ns e sit e, or t o e n g a g e i n cl os e-i n air-t o- air c o m b at, will s ucc e e d a n d/ or ret ur n h o m e s af el y. F urt h er m ore, t h ere are virt u all y n o articl es t h at i n dic at e t h eir h o m e b as es ar e als o u n d er e n e m y att ac k or t h at t h e y h a v e t o s ust ai n o p er ati o ns f or l o n g p eri o ds of ti m e. Fi n all y, t h er e is littl e i nf or m ati o n t h at disc uss es h o w N a v al Avi ati o n a n d t h e P L A A F c o ul d or w o ul d di vi d e u p a p artic ul ar air s p ac e, s uc h as t h e E ast C hi n a S e a Air D ef e ns e I d e ntific ati o n Z o n e ( A DI Z) t h at w as creat e d i n N o v e m b er , or a p ossi bl e n e w A DI Z i n t h e S o ut h C hi n a S e a. 5 7

73 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S A p p e n di x A: N a v al A vi ati o n O p e r ati o n al Ai r O r d e r of B attl e A p p e n di x A pr o vi d es a bri ef hist or y of t h e t y p es of aircr aft N a v al Avi ati o n h as h a d al o n g wit h a c urre nt list, as w ell c h a n g es t o t h e air or d er of b attl e. N a v al A vi ati o n Air cr aft D uri n g t h e s, N a v al Avi ati o n c o nsist e d pri m aril y of t h e Tu- 2, L a- 1 1, a n d Mi G- 1 5 bis aircr aft. B y , t h e f orc e c o m pris e d aircr aft, m ostl y Mi G- 1 7 ( J- 5) a n d Mi G- 1 9 ( J- 6) fi g ht ers a n d Il- 2 8 ( H- 5) li g ht j et b o m b ers D uri n g t h e s, N a v al Avi ati o n b e g a n ac q uiri n g t h e J- 7. D uri n g t h e s, N a v al Avi ati o n w as t h e first P L A a vi ati o n u nits t o rec ei v e t h e J- 8-2 a n d J H- 7 c o m b at aircr aft. To d a y, N a v al Avi ati o n c o nsists of t h e f oll o wi n g aircr aft, w hic h are pri m aril y l a n d- b as e d; h o w e v er, t h e J- 1 5 is n o w fl yi n g off t h e Li ao ni n g aircr aft c arri er, a n d h elic o pt ers r o uti n el y fl y off of v ari o us s urf ac e s hi ps. N a v al Avi ati o n als o h as a p p are ntl y d e pl o ye d c ert ai n t y p es of s h ore- b as e d u n m a n n e d a eri al v e hicl es ( U A Vs) Fi g ht ers: J- 7, J- 8, J- 1 0, J- 1 1, a n d J- 1 5 B o m b ers: H- 5 a n d H- 6 Fi g ht er- b o m b ers ( att ac k): J H- 7, S u- 3 0 S e a pl a n e: S H- 5 Tr a ns p orts, A E W, a n d rec o n n aiss a nc e aircr aft: Y- 7, Y- 8 H elic o pt ers: Z- 5, K A- 2 8, Z- 8, a n d Z- 9 U n m a n n e d a eri al v e hicl es. N a v al A vi ati o n Air Or d er of B attl e N ot e: T his r e p ort c o v ers t h e p eri o d of Alt h o u g h m ulti pl e c h a n g es h a v e occ urre d si nc e t h e P L A b e g a n its 5 8

74 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) re or g a ni z ati o n i n e arl y , t h e c h a n g es h a v e n ot b e e n i nc or p or at e d i nt o t his re p ort. A re vi e w of C hi n es e p u blic ati o ns i n dic at e d t h at, b y t h e e n d of t h e s, N a v al Avi ati o n h a d creat e d ni n e di visi o ns a n d t hr e e i n d e p e n d e nt re gi m e nts I n , N a v al Avi ati o n c o nsist e d of 2 5, p ers o n n el a n d a b o ut t ot al aircr aft or g a ni z e d i nt o ei g ht air di visi o ns a n d 2 7 re gi m e nts, of w hic h s e v er al w ere i n d e p e n d e nt re gi m e nts To d a y, t h er e d o es n ot a p p e ar t o b e a si n gl e, a ut h orit ati v e u ncl assifi e d air or d er of b attl e f or N a v al Avi ati o n, w hic h diff ere nt s o urc es re p ort as r a n gi n g fr o m si x t o ni n e air di visi o ns pl us s e v er al i n d e p e n d e nt re gi m e nts. Acc or di n g t o t h e a n n u al U. S. D e p art m e nt of D ef e ns e A n n u al R e p ort t o C o n gress o n t h e P L A, N a v al Avi ati o n h as a t ot al of si x u ni d e ntifi e d air di visi o ns, i ncl u di n g t w o i n e ac h of t h e t hr e e fl e ets. Acc or di n g t o t h e M arc h Direct or y of P R C Milit ar y Pers o n aliti es, t h e si x di visi o ns are list e d b y fl e et as s h o w n b el o w; h o w e v er, t h e t y p es of airfr a m es a n d s u b or di n at e re gi m e nts are n ot i d e ntifi e d: N ort h S e a Fl e et: 2 n d a n d 5t h air di visi o ns E ast S e a Fl e et: 4t h a n d 6t h air di visi o ns S o ut h S e a Fl e et: 8t h a n d 9t h air di visi o ns I n a d diti o n, Re n mi n H aij u n h as m ulti pl e articl es a b o ut a n u ni d e ntifi e d r e gi m e nt e q ui p p e d wit h Y- 8 tr a ns p orts t h at is dir ectl y s u b or di n at e t o t h e P L A N a v y H e a d q u art ers D e p art m e nt ( 海司某飞行团 ). Alt h o u g h n o s p ecific missi o n f or t his u nit is i d e ntifi e d, s o m e of t h e articl es ref ere nc e acti viti es c o nc er ni n g h e alt h a n d e pi d e mic pre v e nti o n ( 卫生防疫 ) a n d e art h q u a k e reli ef ( 抗震救灾 ) o p er ati o ns Acc or di n g t o M o d er n C hi n es e War pl a n es: C o m b at Aircr aft a n d U nits of t h e C hi n es e Air F orc e a n d N a v al Avi ati o n, N a v al Avi ati o n h as t h e f oll o wi n g si x o p er ati o n al air di visi o ns a n d s u b or di n at e re gi m e nts:

75 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S N ort h S e a Fl e et 2 n d Air Di visi o n ( 3 re gi m e nts) wit h A E W, S e a pl a n e, a n d I S R aircr aft, as w ell as h elic o pt ers 5t h Air Di visi o n ( 3 re gi m e nts) wit h J H- 7 fi g ht er- b o m b ers a n d J- 8 fi g ht ers E ast S e a Fl e et 4t h Air Di visi o n ( 3 re gi m e nts) wit h J- 1 0 a n d S u- 3 0 fi g ht ers a n d v ari o us h elic o pt ers 6t h Att ac k Di visi o n ( 3 re gi m e nts) wit h J H- 7 fi g ht erb o m b ers a n d H- 6 b o m b ers A U A V rec o n n aiss a nc e d a d ui ( e. g., b att ali o n-l e v el gr o u p, w hic h is m ost li k el y treat e d as a re gi m e nt) S o ut h S e a Fl e et 8t h Air Di visi o n ( 3 re gi m e nts) wit h J- 7 a n d J- 1 1 fi g ht ers, a n d H- 6 b o m b ers 9t h Air Di visi o n ( 3 re gi m e nts) wit h J- 8 fi g ht ers, J H- 7 fi g ht er- b o m b ers, a n d v ari o us h elic o pt ers. Of n ot e, alt h o u g h t h e P L A A F b e g a n cr e ati n g a b o ut 1 5 air bri g a d es si nc e e arl y b y a b olis hi n g air di visi o n h e a d q u art ers a n d u p gr a di n g air re gi m e nts, it d o es n ot a p p e ar t h at N a v al Avi ati o n h as f oll o w e d s uit. I n a d diti o n, w h ereas m ost P L A A F airfi el ds h a v e a si n gl e t y p e of airfr a m e, it a p p e ars t h at N a v al Avi ati o n h as s e v er al airfi el ds wit h m ulti pl e t y p es of airfr a m es. I n a d diti o n, w h ereas t h e P L A A F b e g a n m o vi n g its s e ni or offic ers fr o m t h e c o ntr ol t o w er t o t h e c o m m a n d p ost i n t h e b ott o m of t h e c o ntr ol t o w er a n d r e pl aci n g t h e m wit h ot h er offic ers i d e ntifi e d as fli g ht a dj ust ers ( 飞行调配员 ) it d o es n ot a p p e ar t h at N a v al Avi ati o n h as d o n e t h e s a m e t hi n g. 6 0

76 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) E n d n ot e s 1 T he P L A Na v y uses Na v al Avi ati o n ( 海军航空兵 ), w hic h d oes n ot h a ve a n acr o n y m. It d oes n ot use P L A Na v al Air F orce ( P L A N A F). 2 Ya o J u n, e d., A Hist or y of C hi n a s Avi ati o n ( 中国航空史 ), Z he n g z h o u: D aji a P u blis hers, S e pte m ber , p Na v al Avi ati o n Br a nc h of t h e C P L A ( 中国人民解放军海军航空兵部 ), i n Z h a o Yi pi n g, e d., C hi n a Peo ple s Li ber atio n Ar my Histor y ( 中国人民解放军军史 ) S ec o n d E diti o n Vol u m e 3, C hi n a E nc ycl o p e di a Press, Dece m ber , p T he pr ot oc ol or der c a n be f o u n d at htt p://e n g. m o d. g o v.c n/ Ar me d F orces/ n a v y. ht m. 4 G a o Xi a o xi n g, T he P L A N a vy, C hi n a I nterc o nti ne nt al Press, J a n u ar y , p Na v al Avi ati o n Br a nc h of t h e C P L A ( 中国人民解放军海军航空兵部 ), i n Z h a o Yi pi n g, e d., C hi n a Peo ple s Li ber atio n Ar my Histor y ( 中国人民解放军军史 ) S ec o n d E diti o n Vol u m e 3, C hi n a E nc ycl o pe di a Press, Dece m ber , p C hi n a s N atio n al Defe nse ( 中国的国防 ) h as bee n p u blis he d bie n ni all y fr o m t hr o u g h by t he P R C St at e C o u ncil s I nf or m ati o n Offic e. T his p u blic ati o n is us u all y ref erre d t o as t h e D ef e ns e W hit e Pa p er ( 白皮书 ). O nl y t h e a n d versi o ns disc uss t h e P L A N s missi o ns. 7 G a o Xi a o xi n g, T he P L A N a vy ( E n glis h versi o n) Beiji n g: C hi n a I nt erc o nti n e nt al Press, Oct o ber , p Wa n g X u g o n g a n d Y u a n H o n gc h a o, Na v al Avi ati o n ( 海军航空兵 ), i n Z h a n g F uji a n g a n d Z h a n g H ui, e ds., C hi n a Na v y E nc ycl o pe di a ( 中国海军百科全书 ), Beiji n g: H aic h a o Press, Dece m ber , p R o d eric k L e e, T he Peo ple s Li ber atio n Ar my N a vy N a v al A vi atio n Br a nc h: A Missio n A n alysis of N a v al A vi atio n a n d W h at It Is S u p pose d To Do, u n p u blis he d m aster s c o urse p a per at Ge or ge Was hi n gt o n U ni versit y, 2 9 A pril H o we ver m a n y of t hese l atter missi o ns are n ot o vertl y e m p h asi z e d i n d octri n al writi n gs, we assess t hese missi o ns d o exist b ase d o n t he t y pes of tr ai ni n g acti vities c o n d ucte d a n d t he t y pes of aircr aft e m pl oye d. 6 1

77 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S 1 1 Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 A pril Wa n g H o u qi n g, Z h a n g Xi n g ye, e ds., Scie nce of C a m p ai g ns ( 战役学 ), Beiji n g: Milit ar y Scie nce Press ( 军事科学出版社 ), M a y , p Z h a n g Y uli a n g, e d., Scie nce of C a m p ai g ns ( 战役学 ), Beiji n g: Milit ar y Scie nce Press ( 军事科学出版社 ), M a y , p Worl d Milit ar y Ye ar b o o k , p. 1 0, i de ntifie d Na v al Avi ati o n as h a vi n g s u b or di n ate S A Ms, b ut n o ye ar b o o ks si nce t he n br o ke o ut t he s u b or di n ate u nits. F urt her m ore, t he 5 a n d 1 0 S e pte m ber iss ues of R M HJ, w hic h c o vere d Na v al Avi ati o n s 5 0t h a n ni vers ar y, n ote d s u b or di n ate A A A a n d r a d ar u nits, b ut di d n ot list S A Ms, n or di d a n y R M HJ articles n ot e S A M u nits si nce t h e n. C h e n Z h e, Z h u Weij u n, a n d Z h u Ya, Yo u n g Offic ers a n d E nlist e d Pers o n nel i n a N ort h S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n s Cert ai n Air D ef e ns e Bri g a d e M o ve F or w ar d, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 4 Oct o b er , p. 4. Ya n S h u of e n g, Z h o n g Jij u n, a n d S h a o L o n gf ei, A S o ut h S e a Fleet s Cert ai n Air Def e nse Bri g a de, Jief a n gj u n B ao, 2 3 J ul y Z h u R o n gc h a n g, e d., Air F orc e Dicti o n ar y ( 空军大辞典 ), S h a n g h ai: S h a n g h ai Dicti o n ar y Press, S e pt e m b er , p P L A Air F orc e Offic er H a n d b o o k, , p Li u Xi a oli a n a n d Y u Qi n gli a n g, P L A Air F orc e Fe m al e Pil ots ( 中国人民解放军空军女飞行员 ), Beiji n g: Bl ue S k y Press, A u g ust S e e Ke n net h W. Alle n, P L A Air F orce, Na v al Avi ati o n, a n d Ar m y Avi ati o n Avi at or Recr uit me nt, E d uc ati o n, a n d Tr ai ni n g, J a mest o w n F o u n d ati o n, M arc h , accesse d at htt p://j a m est o w n. or g/ u pl o a ds/t x _j a m q uic kst ore/ P L A _ Avi at or _ Recr uit me nt _ E d uc ati o n _ a n d _ Tr ai ni n g _ Fi n al _ 0 1. p df. 1 6 M a o Z hi, L u Ji n g a n, a n d G a o H o n g wei, I n D ar k n ess, War H a w ks S ki m t he S e as t o L a u nc h S u d d e n Att ac ks, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 4 A pril , p. 2. Of n ote, e ver y u nit i n t he P L A d o w n t o t he c o m p a n y le vel h as at least t w o de p uties. 1 7 I n t he P L A A F a n d Na v al Avi ati o n, pil ots are a w ar de d o ne of f o ur gr a des t hir d gr a de ( 三级 ), sec o n d gr a de ( 二级 ), first gr a de ( 一级 ), a n d s peci al gr a d e ( 特级 ) as t h e y m o ve u p t h eir c areer l a d der a n d wear t he a p pr o pri ate wi n gs o n t h eir u nif or m. T h e crit eri a f or ac q uiri n g t h es e gr a d es i ncl u d e h a vi n g fl o w n X n u m b er of s af e fl yi n g h o urs b ase d o n t he t y pe of airfr a me, c o n d ucti n g s peci al missi o ns, ser vi n g as a lea d pil ot f or 2-, 3-, a n d 4-s hi p f or m ati o ns, s er vi n g as a fli g ht c o ntr oller i n t he t o wer, ser vi n g as a fli g ht i nstr uct or, a n d h a vi n g t he a bilit y t o fl y d a y a n d ni g ht I F R a n d V F R missi o ns i n all t y pes of weat her c o n diti o ns. 1 8 Z h o u S hi wei a n d G a o H o n g wei, A C ert ai n B o m b er Re gi me nt U n der t he S o ut h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n F orces Brea ks B arriers t o O pe n U p a Pat h f or Wi n ni n g,, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 0 A pril , p. 1. Z h a n g Ta o a n d Li Bi nf u, Air b or n e C o m m a n d P ost M a kes Att ac ks Q uic k a n d Acc ur ate I nf or m ati o n o n N ort h C hi n a S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n Li ve Tr o o p C o nfr o nt ati o n Drills, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 N o ve m ber , p. 2. Z h a n g Ta o a n d Li Bi nf u, 6 2

78 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) Air b or ne C o m m a n d P ost M a k es Att ac ks Q uic k a n d Acc ur ate I nf or m ati o n o n N ort h C hi n a S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n Li ve Tr o o p C o nfr o nt ati o n Drills, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 N o ve m ber , p M a o Z hi, L u H a o, a n d G a o H o n g wei, Aeri al B o m bs Gr o w E yes, Re n mi n H aij u n, 7 M a y , p N ote: T he P L A A F a n d Na v al Avi ati o n d o n ot h a ve a t er m f or gr o u n d c o ntr oll e d i nt erc e pt ( G CI). Alt h o u g h t he P L A h as a ter m f or c o m m a n d a n d c o ntr ol ( 指挥控制 ), it is pri m aril y f oc use d o n hi g her le vel c o m m a n ders pr o vi di n g c o m m a n d a n d c o ntr ol t o u nits. C o m m a n d a n d g ui d a nce is m ore direct e d at c o m m a n d ers gi vi n g g ui d a nc e t o s p ecific c o m p o n e nts of t heir u nit, s uc h as a c o m m a n der i n a t o wer pr o vi di n g g ui d a nce t o a pil ot i n t he air. Milit ar y Ter mi nolo g y of t he C hi nese Peo ple s Li ber atio n Ar my ( 中国人民解放军军语 ), B eiji n g: Ac a d e m y of Milit ar y Scie nce P u blis hi n g H o use, , p Z h a n g D a bi n, M a o Z hi, a n d G a o Yi, L o n g- Dist a nce R ai d: St or mi n g F ortific ati o ns o n a B o m bi n g R u n, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 7 A pril , p Z h a n g D a bi n a n d G a o Yi, Ni g ht Tr ai ni n g S a ys G o o d bye t o C al m Wi n d a n d Wa ves, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 8 M a y , p M a o Z hi, L u Ji n g a n, a n d G a o H o n g wei, I n D ar k ness, War H a w ks S ki m t he S e as t o L a u nc h S u d de n Att ac ks, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 4 A pril , p X u Ye qi n g, Z h a o H ait a o, a n d Z h a n g He n g, B ol dl y C h ar gi n g T hr o u g h M ulti pl e Off- Li mit Areas i n Tr o o p Tr ai ni n g -- A Cert ai n Fli g ht Re gi m e nt of t h e E ast S e a Fl e et Pr actic es C o m b at Eff ecti ve ness St a n d ar ds D uri n g Li ve C o m b at- Ori e nt e d Tr ai ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 7 Oct o ber , p Wa n g C h a o w u, P L A Na v y s First Ji a n- 1 0 Fl yi n g Re gi me nt S ets M a n y Rec or ds f or Re-e q ui p pi n g-rel ate d Tr ai ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 3 Dece m ber , p Peo ple s Li ber atio n Ar my Air Force , N atio n al Air a n d S p ace I ntelli ge nce Ce nter ( N A SI C), A u g ust , p. 8 4, w hic h w as accesse d at htt p:// w w w. a u. af. mil/ a u/ a wc/ a wc g ate/ n asic/ pl a _ af _ p df. 2 7 Z h a n g D a bi n a n d G a o Yi, Ni g ht Tr ai ni n g S a ys G o o d bye t o C al m Wi n d a n d Wa ves, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 8 M a y , p Z h u R o n gc h a n g, e d., Air Force Dictio n ar y ], p a ge Ya o Wei, e d., C hi n a Air Force E ncyclo pe di a ( 中国空军百科全书 ); Beiji n g, Aviati o n I n d ustr y Press, N ove m ber , Vol 2, p

79 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S 2 9 G a o Ya n g a n d Ya n g Ai g u o, I n t he D ar k of Ni g ht, T we nt y- F o ur B o m bs Fl y To w ar d t he E n e m y P ositi o n - A C ert ai n E ast S e a Fl e et Avi ati o n R e gi me nt Cl osel y F oll o ws Act u al C o m b at i n Or g a ni zi n g a n Ass a ult E xercise, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 7 J u ne , p Z h a n g D a bi n a n d G a o Yi, Ni g ht Tr ai ni n g S a ys G o o d bye t o C al m Wi n d a n d Wa ves, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 8 M a y , p Z h a n g D a bi n a n d G a o Yi, Ni g ht Tr ai ni n g S a ys G o o d bye t o C al m Wi n d a n d Wa ves, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 8 M a y , p Ji n Di wei a n d Wa n g C h a o w u, B uil d I nte nsi ve J oi nt O p er ati o n S u p p ort Pl atf or m -- R ec or d of A n U ni d e ntifie d St ati o n of E ast S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n E n h a nci n g C a p a bilit y B uil di n g of C o m pre h e nsi ve S u p p ort f or M ulti pl e Aircr aft Ty pes, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 6 A pril , p I bi d. 3 4 K o u Yo n g qi a n g, Li Yi mi n, a n d Li X uef e n g, Ta ke Off Fr o m t h e R u n w a y U n d er C o n diti o ns of Act u al C o m b at -- A n E ye- Wit ness Acc o u nt of t he Eff orts M a de by a S o ut h S e a Fleet Di visi o n To E n h a nce Its C a p a bilit y To Pr o vi de C o m pre he nsi ve S u p p ort t o M ulti ple Ty pes of Aircr aft, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 Fe br u ar y , p Li D o n g d o n g, Ele v ati o n of C o m b at Alert St at us Wit h o ut Del a y: E ast S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n R e gi m e nt C o m b at R e a di n ess D ut y C o n n ects S e a ml essl y Wit h R e g ul ar Tr ai ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 3 A pril , p Yi n K u n z e, X u Xi a os ai, Z h a n g H e n g a n d Z h a o H ait a o:, Freest yle Air C o m b at, I n P urs uit of t he Real Mea ni n g of Fi g hti n g Wi n ni n g Wars Rec or d of C o nte m pl ati o ns o n a Cert ai n Re gi me nt of E ast S e a Fleet Na v y Avi ati o n H ol di n g Li ve C o m b at Orie nte d Tr ai ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 6 S e pte m ber , p Z h o u S hi wei a n d G a o H o n g wei, A C ert ai n B o m b er Re gi me nt U n der t he S o ut h S e a Fl e et Avi ati o n F orces Brea ks B arri ers t o O p e n U p a Pat h f or Wi n ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n 1 0 A pril , p Z h a n g Ta o a n d Li Bi nf u, Air b or ne C o m m a n d P ost M a kes Att ac ks Q uic k a n d Acc ur ate I nf or m ati o n o n N ort h C hi n a S e a Fl e et Na v al Avi ati o n Li ve Tr o o p C o nfr o nt ati o n Drills, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 N o ve m ber , p M a o Z hi, L u H a o, a n d G a o H o n g wei: Aeri al B o m bs Gr o w E yes, Re n mi n H aij u n, 7 M a y , p

80 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) 4 0 M a o Z hi, L u Ji n g a n, a n d G a o H o n g wei, I n D ar k ness, War H a w ks S ki m t he S e as t o L a u nc h S u d de n Att ac ks, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 4 A pril , p Eli z a bet h S hi m, C hi nese n a v y pil ots s ur vi ve fi g hter jet cr as h, U PI, 1 7 Dece m ber , accesse d at w w w. u pi.c o m/ To p _ Ne ws/ Worl d- Ne ws/ / 1 2/ 1 7/ C hi nese- n a v y- pil ots-s ur vi ve-fi g ht er-j et-cr as h/ /. Z h a n g Ta o, e d., P L A Na v y aircr aft i n fli g ht tr ai ni n g cr as hes, C hi n a Milit ar y O nli ne, 1 8 Dece m ber , accesse d at htt p:// e n g. m o d. g o v.c n/ D ef e ns e Ne ws/ / 1 8/c o nt e nt _ ht m. htt p:// e n g. m o d. g o v.c n/ Def e nse Ne ws/ / 1 8/c o nte nt _ ht m. 4 2 Z h a n g Ta o, Na v y fi g hter cr as hes i n east C hi n a, Xi n h u a, 1 2 M a y , f o u n d at htt p:// e n g. m o d. g o v.c n/ Def e nse Ne ws/ / 1 2/c o nte nt _ ht m. 4 3 Mi a o Z he n g ge a n d Wa n g S o n g qi, Att ac k, Att ac k, a n d Att ac k A g ai n -- A S n a ps h ot of a Na v y Fi g hter Pl a ne s Tr ai ni n g t o M ai nt ai n its E n d ur a nc e a n d R a n ge, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 9 M arc h , p All of t he i nf or m ati o n i n t his s u bsecti o n o n J- 1 0 tr a nsiti o n tr ai ni n g c o mes fr o m Z h a n g Qi n g b a o, Wa n g C h a o w u, a n d Z h a o H ait a o, T h e Fi erc e Dr a g o ns Att ac k R ec or d of E n h a nci n g C a p a bilities f or Wi n ni n g War by U ni de ntifie d Re gi me nt of t he E ast S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n C or ps, Re n mi n H aij u n, 9 J ul y , p. 1, a n d Wa n g C h a o w u, P L A Na v y s First Ji a n- 1 0 Fl yi n g R e gi m e nt S ets M a n y R ec or ds f or R e- e q ui p pi n g- R el at e d Tr ai ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 3 Dece m ber , p All of t he i nf or m ati o n i n t his s u bsecti o n o n t he Bl ue f orce c a me fr o m Li a n g Qi n gs o n g, Fa n g Li h u a, D ai Z o n gf e n g, Ji n Di wei, a n d Z h a n g He n g, T h e Ac e Ta k es C h ar ge -- A R e p ort Fr o m t he First Fli g ht Gr o u p of a Cert ai n Re gi me nt of E ast S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n o n E n h a nci n g t he A bilit y t o Fi g ht a n d Wi n B attl es, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 M arc h , p. 4. Li u We n pi n g, Z h a o H ait a o, a n d J u Z he n h u a, Fl yi n g a g ai nst a G ol de n Hel met, C hi n a Ar me d Forces m a g a zi ne, i n C hi nese a n d E n glis h, N o. 3 2, Vol 2, , p Z h a o H ait a o a n d Z h a n g H e n g, L a y Fir m F o u n d ati o n f or J oi nt Tr ai ni n g, D e e p e n D e gree of J oi nt O p er ati o n, a n d R aise J oi nt C o m b at C a p a bilit y; Na v y Will J oi ntl y Or g a ni z e wit h Air F orc e Free Air War C o nfr o nt ati o n Drill, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 0 A u g ust , p. 1. T he p h ot o of t he Her oic E a gle Re gi me nt w as acc ess e d at htt p:// y 1.if e n gi m g.c o m/ b e b 1 d 5 9 8/ / / r d n _ 5 0 9f 3f d ae 0.j p g. C hi n a E ast C hi n a S e a Fl e et S u- 3 0 fi g hters re veali n g w h at, 2 A pril , f o u n d at htt p:// w w w. get-t o p- ne ws.c o m/ ne ws ht ml. 4 6 htt ps:// a ns wers. y a h o o.c o m/ q u esti o n/i n d e x? qi d = A A 9 p C a 7. P ulli n g g ( e. g., gr a vit ati o n al eff ects) is b asic all y p ulli n g b ac k o n t he stic k f orci n g a c h a n ge i n t h e fli g ht p at h of t he pl a ne. T he h ar der a n d m ore r a pi dl y y o u p ull, t he hi g her t he g is. E ver y G is t he e q ui v ale nt of 1 ti mes t he f orce of gr a vit y, s uc h t h at eac h g a d ds t he a m o u nt of y o ur wei g ht (e. g., a p o u n d pers o n w o ul d wei g h at 2 g s a n d p o u n ds at 3 g s, etc.). T his t y pe 6 5

81 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S of g is ref erre d t o as p ositi ve g bec a use it a d ds t o t he wei g ht of t he pil ot were he pl ace d o n a sc ale. Ne g ati ve g is p us hi n g f or w ar d o n t he stic k. T he pil ot s wei g ht w o ul d be re d uce d. Milit ar y pil ots re g ul arl y fl y m a ne u vers at 4 g s. All acr o b atics i n v ol ve usi n g u p t o 4 g s. Hi g her g t oler a nces m a y be t oler ate d if t he pil ot wears a g s uit w hic h l o o ks li ke a p air of p a nts wit h c ut- o uts f or t he k nees. A n yt hi n g be y o n d 8 g s is ver y diffic ult t o t oler ate ver y l o n g. Ne g ati ve g s m a x o ut ar o u n d 3, bec a use t he y c a use t erri bl e h e a d ac h es f or t h e pil ot. 0 g is wei g htless ness. O n t he w a y t o ne g ati ve g t he pil ot will p ass m o me nt aril y t hr o u g h 0 G. T he U S Air F orce h as ex perie nce d se ver al pil ot deat hs as a res ult fr o m s n a p pi n g o n hi g h g l o a ds a n d t he pil ot p assi n g o ut. T he g l o a d dr o ps a n d t he pil ot be gi ns t o w a ke u p. 4 7 Wa n g Z he n g y a n g, Li u H u g a n g, a n d Z h a n g He n g, T w o Aircr aft G o O ut o n t he Att ac k, Tar get Missile E x pl o des Hi g h i n t he S k y, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 A u g ust , p Z h a n g He n g, Ji n Di wei, a n d Z h a o H ait a o, C o m b at Aircr aft Fr o m t he Na v al Avi ati o n Her oic E a gle Re gi me nt of t he E ast C hi n a S e a Fleet Ta ke- Off As S o o n As t he Sire n S o u n ds, Re n mi n H aij u n, 8 Fe br u ar y , p X u Ye qi n g, Z h a o H ait a o, a n d Z h a n g He n g, B ol dl y C h ar gi n g T hr o u g h M ulti pl e Off- Li mit Areas i n Tr o o p Tr ai ni n g -- A Cert ai n Fli g ht Re gi me nt of t h e E ast S e a Fl e et Pr actic es C o m b at Eff ecti ve ness St a n d ar ds D uri n g Li ve C o m b at- Ori e nt e d Tr ai ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 7 Oct o ber , p I bi d. 5 1 I bi d. 5 2 I bi d. 5 3 Yi n K u n z e, Fa n g Li h u a, a n d Z h a n g H e n g, Fi g ht er Pl a n es B el o n gi n g t o t h e Na v y s T hree Fleets Partici p at e i n a n Air B attl e C o nfr o nt ati o n al Drill f or R es e arc h P ur p os e, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 9 Oct o ber , p K a n g Z hij u n a n d Ya n F uji a n g, G ai ni n g C o m b at P o wer Fr o m I n n o v ati n g Tactics, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 9 Oct o ber , p. 3. N ote: T he B o h ai S e a is als o i de ntifie d as t he B o h ai G ulf. 5 5 Wa n g L eilei a n d Z h a o Ji n g y u a n, P L A N S F Di visi o n: H o ni n g Cr oss- S e a Area L o n g Dist a nce Ass a ult C a p a bilit y, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 3 A pril , p. 1. Of n ot e, o nl y t w o s p ecific ref ere nces were f o u n d c o ncer ni n g fli g ht acti vit y o n a S at ur d a y. 5 6 F u Xi a n g p e n g, Y u M a o qi a n g, a n d Li X u ef e n g, E a gl e Stri kes at S e a a n d Heave n -- Rec or d of a Cert ai n Fl yi n g Gr o u p U n der t he S o ut h C hi n a S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n T h at R aises C ore Milit ar y C a p a bilities, Re n mi n H aij u n, 4 J ul y , p

82 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) 5 7 Qi Wei y u e, Mi Ji n g u o, a n d Wa n g Qi n g h o u, A C ert ai n Fli g ht Re gi me nt of t he N ort h S e a Fleet -- Pi n- P oi nt Eli mi n ati o n i n a n All- Ni g htti me L o n g- R a n ge R ai d E xercise, Re n mi n H aij u n, 3 M a y , p M a Jij u n a n d H u a n g Li a n g, Breat ht a ki n g C o m b at as Ass a ults Are L a u nc he d i n a S e a of Na v al Mi nes -- Wit nessi n g t he Br a ver y Li ve- F orce Na v al Mi ne Warf are Drill, Re n mi n H aij u n, 3 0 S e pte m ber , p Z h o u S hi wei a n d G a o H o n g wei, M a n y Aircr aft C o or di n ati n g, H ac ki n g At a n O bsti n ate E n e m y i n t h e Cl o u ds: S o ut h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n Or g a ni z es M ulti- Br a nc h J oi nt O p p ositi o n- f orce Tr ai ni n g E xercise, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 1 A u g ust , p Fa n g Li h u a, Z h a o H ait a o, a n d Z h a n g H e n g, E ye wit n ess t o E ast S e a Fl e et Avi ati o n Or g a ni z e d M ulti ple Aircr aft Ty pe C o m bi ne d Att ac k Li ve- F orces Li ve- A m m u niti o n Tr ai ni n g E xercise, Re n mi n H aij u n, 6 Dece m ber , p. 1. Of n ote, t his w as t he o nl y ref ere nce f o u n d f or fli g ht acti vit y occ urri n g o n a S u n d a y. 6 1 We n Xi a n g y a n, Wa n g D a n, a n d G a o H o n g wei, L o n g- R a n ge R ai d: Cl o u ds a n d M o o n o n a Dist a nt R o a d, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 8 A u g ust , p F u Xi a n g p e n g, Y u M a o qi a n g, a n d Li X u ef e n g, E a gl e Stri kes at S e a a n d Heave n -- Rec or d of a Cert ai n Fl yi n g Gr o u p U n der t he S o ut h C hi n a S e a Fleet Air F orce T h at R aises C ore Milit ar y C a p a bilities, Re n mi n H aij u n, 4 J ul y , p Wa n Yate n g, Li Z hi w u, a n d H u a n g Bi n bi n, Ver y L o w Altit u d e D ef e ns e Pe n etr ati o n, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 5 A pril , p N S F Na v al Avi ati o n Re gi me nt C o n d ucts C o m bi ne d Tr ai ni n g wit h S urf ace Tas k F orce; R efl ects G o als of De vel o pi n g a n d Perf ecti n g C o m bi ne d Air- S urf ace O per ati o n al C a p a bilities, Tactics Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 2 M arc h , p T h e p h ot o at t h e ri g ht w as accesse d at htt p:// ne ws.si n a.c o m.c n/c hi n a/ / _ a 3.j p g a n d is re prese nt ati ve of m ost p h ot os s h o wi n g Na v al Avi ati o n b o m bers i n f or m ati o n. 6 6 Z h a n g D a bi n, M a o Z hi, a n d G a o Yi, L o n g- Dist a nce R ai d: St or mi n g F ortific ati o ns o n a B o m bi n g R u n, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 7 A pril , p Z h a n g D a bi n, M a o Z hi, a n d G a o Yi, L o n g- Dist a nce R ai d: St or mi n g F ortific ati o ns o n a B o m bi n g R u n, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 7 A pril , p. 1. Z h a n g D a bi n a n d G a o Yi, Ni g ht Tr ai ni n g S a ys G o o d bye t o C al m Wi n d a n d Wa ves, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 8 M a y , p

83 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S 6 8 M a o Z hi, L u Ji n g a n, a n d G a o H o n g wei, I n D ar k n ess, War H a w ks S ki m t he S e as t o L a u nc h S u d de n Att ac ks, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 4 A pril , p. 2. G a o Yi, Li Xi a o, Li a n g Qi n gs o n g, Z h a n g Qi n g b a o, a n d Li G a oji a n, T he S w or d Is P oi nte d at t he Ocea n a n d t he B o w Stri n g Is Bei n g P ulle d A n Acc o u nt of t he Dist a nt-sea Act u al- Tr o o p O p p osi n g F orce E xercise M a ne u ver- 5 ( 机动 - 5), Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 8 Oct o ber , p. 1. G a o Ya n g a n d Ya n g Ai g u o, I n t h e D ar k of Ni g ht, T we nt y- F o ur B o m bs Fl y To w ar d t he E ne m y P ositi o n - A Cert ai n E ast S e a Fl e et Avi ati o n Re gi me nt Cl osel y F oll o ws Act u al C o m b at i n Or g a ni zi n g a n Ass a ult E xercise, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 7 J u ne , p M a o Z hi, L u H a o, a n d G a o H o n g wei, Aeri al B o m bs Gr o w E yes, Re n mi n H aij u n, 7 M a y , p Z h a n g Ta o a n d Li Bi nf u, Air b or ne C o m m a n d P ost M a kes Att ac ks Q uic k a n d Acc ur ate I nf or m ati o n o n N ort h C hi n a S e a Fl e et Na v al Avi ati o n Li ve Tr o o p C o nfr o nt ati o n Drills, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 N o ve m ber , p A n dreas R u p prec ht a n d To m C o o per, Mo der n C hi nese War pl a nes: Co m b at Aircr aft a n d U nits of t he C hi nese Air Force a n d N a v al A vi atio n, H ar pi a P u blis hi n g, , p Z h a n g Wa n h ui, G u o Xi a of ei, a n d L u Yi, A C hi nese P L A N ort h S e a Fl e et Avi ati o n Di visi o n Us es Bi g d at a t o Lift B attlefiel d F o g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 5 J u ne , p H u Yi, Ya n g K ai k ai, Wa n g Ji n g, a n d G u o Xi a of ei, S h ar pe ni n g t he E a gle s E yes t o Patr ol t he S e a a n d S kies - O n-t he- S p ot Re p orti n g of a Cert ai n P L A Na v y N ort h S e a Fleet Air F orce earl y w ar ni n g aircr aft R e gi m e nt s I n n o v ati o n of Aircr aft M ai nt e n a nc e S u p p ort Met h o ds U n der I nf or m ati z e d C o n diti o ns, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 8 Oct o ber , p I nf or m ati o n w as accesse d at w w w net/ a/ Milit ar y/ / / ht ml. Z h a n g Ta o a n d Li Bi nf u, Air b or ne c o m m a n d p ost M a kes Att ac ks Q uic k a n d Acc ur ate I nf or m ati o n o n N ort h C hi n a S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n Li ve Tr o o p C o nfr o nt ati o n Drills, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 N o ve m ber , p Z h a n g Ta o a n d Li Bi nf u, Air b or ne c o m m a n d p ost M a kes Att ac ks Q uic k a n d Acc ur ate I nf or m ati o n o n N ort h C hi n a S e a Fl e et Na v al Avi ati o n Li ve Tr o o p C o nfr o nt ati o n Drills, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 N o ve m ber , p. 2. A ut h or n ot i de ntifie d, A P L A Na v y N ort h S e a Fleet earl y w ar ni n g re gi m e nt o verc o m es a m yri a d of diffic ulti es t o s ucc essf ull y c o m pl et e t h e c h a n ge o ver t o a ne w m o d el of aircr aft i n rec or d ti m e, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 Fe br u ar y , p Y u a n Xi a o mi n g, H u Yi, a n d Ya n g K ai k ai, A P L A Na v y N ort h S e a Fleet earl y w ar ni n g re gi me nt o verc o mes a m yri a d of diffic ulties t o s uccessf ull y c o m plete t he c h a n ge o ver t o a ne w m o del of aircr aft i n rec or d ti me, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 Fe br u ar y , p

84 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) 7 6 Z h a n g Ta o a n d Li Bi nf u, Air b or ne c o m m a n d p ost M a kes Att ac ks Q uic k a n d Acc ur ate I nf or m ati o n o n N ort h C hi n a S e a Fl e et Na v al Avi ati o n Li ve Tr o o p C o nfr o nt ati o n Drills, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 N o ve m ber , p Yi n K u n z e, Fa n g Li h u a, a n d Z h a n g He n g, Fi g hters Bel o n gi n g t o t he T hree Fleets Partici p ate i n a n Air B attle C o nfr o nt ati o n al Drill f or Researc h P ur p ose, 2 9 Oct o ber , p I bi d. 7 9 Q u Fe n gf a n a n d Y u Li bi n, N ort h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n R e gi m e nt G etti n g I ncreasi n gl y S kille d i n Air b or ne C o m m a n d Pl atf or m Wit h I ncreas e d Pr actic e, Re n mi n H aij u n, 8 M arc h , p Fa n g Li h u a, Z h a o H ait a o, a n d Z h a n g H e n g, E ye wit n ess t o E ast S e a Fl e et Avi ati o n Or g a ni z e d M ulti ple Aircr aft Ty pe C o m bi ne d Att ac k Li ve- F orces Li ve- A m m u niti o n Tr ai ni n g E xercise, Re n mi n H aij u n, 6 Dece m ber , p. 1. Mi a o Z he n g ge, H u a n g D o n g h o n g, a n d Y u Li bi n, A Cert ai n N ort h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n F orc es Air R e gi m e nt Strictl y C arries O ut Tr ai ni n g t o S h ar p e n S kills f or Wi n ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 4 J ul y , p. 3. H o n g K o n g Me di a: C hi n a s Air b or ne E arl y War ni n g Aircr aft L e a d A meric a i n Ni ne Ke y Tec h n ol o gies, 3 0 S e pte m ber , accesse d at htt p:// n e ws. q q.c o m/ a/ / ht m. J- 1 0 R a pt or C o m b at Aircr aft, Air Force Worl d, accesse d at w w w. airf orce w orl d.c o m/ pl a/j F- 1 0-fi g hter-c hi n a. ht m. C o m m a n d a n d G ui d a nce, i n P L A Milit ar y Ter mi nolo g y ( 中国人民解放军军语 ), Beiji n g: Ac a de m y of Milit ar y Scie nce Press, Dece m ber , p Li u We n pi n g, Li Di n g, Wa n g Yaj u n, a n d H u a n g Li a n g, A N ort h S e a Fl e et B as e Or g a ni z es Researc h a n d Tr ai ni n g i n J uris dicti o n al Area J oi nt Defe nsive O perati o ns, Re n mi n Haij u n, 1 8 A u g ust , p Z h o u S hi wei a n d G a o H o n g wei, M a n y Aircr aft C o or di n ati n g, H ac ki n g At a n O bsti n ate E n e m y i n t h e Cl o u ds: S o ut h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n Or g a ni z es M ulti- Br a nc h J oi nt O p p ositi o n- f orce Tr ai ni n g E xercise, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 1 A u g ust , p Q u Fe n gf a n a n d Y u Li bi n, N ort h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n R e gi m e nt G etti n g I ncreasi n gl y S kille d i n Air b or ne C o m m a n d Pl atf or m Wit h I ncreas e d Pr actic e, Re n mi n H aij u n, 8 M arc h , p T he p h ot o w as accesse d at htt p:// m.t hj u ns hi.c o m/ article/ ht ml. 8 5 S o ut h S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n Aeri al Ref ueli n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 6 M arc h , p

85 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S 8 6 S o ut h S e a Fleet Na v al Avi ati o n Ta n kers S uccessf ull y C o m pl et e Aeri al R ef u eli n g o ver t he S o ut h C hi n a S e a, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 S e pte m ber , p G a o H o n g wei, Ta n g Qi n g, a n d Wa n g S hij u n, C heeri n g O n Ref ueli n g -- A n E ye wit ness Acc o u nt of A Cert ai n S o ut h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n Re gi me nt Ne w Pil ots i n Aeri al Ref ueli n g Tr ai ni n g f or t he First Ti me, 1 7 J u ne , p. 1. S u n Mi n gli a n g, Z h a n g Li n, a n d Y u Li bi n, A c ert ai n di visi o n of t he N ort h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n or g a ni z es its first mi d air ref u eli n g tr ai ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 8 S e pte m ber , p Mi a o Z he n g ge a n d Wa n g S o n g qi, Att ac k, Att ac k, a n d Att ac k A g ai n -- A S n a ps h ot of a Na v y Fi g hter Pl a ne s Tr ai ni n g t o M ai nt ai n its E n d ur a nc e a n d R a n ge, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 9 M arc h , p. 1. Z h a n g He n g, E ast Fleet Di visi o n; Na v al Avi ati o n E a gles R us h i nt o t he Cl o u ds, Re n mi n H aij u n, 8 Oct o ber , p. 2. F u Ji a n g u a n g, S he n H a o, a n d S u n Fei, P L A N ort h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n Di visi o n Na m e d First Cl ass P L A- Wi d e Milit ar y Tr ai ni n g U nit F o ur C o nsec uti ve Ti mes -- Strictl y M a n a gi n g Tr ai ni n g t o F or ge a Wi n ni n g E d ge, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 6 M arc h , p Mi a o Z he n g ge a n d Li u S o n g bi n, U ntitle d P h ot os, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 5 A pril , p Jeffre y Li n a n d P. W. Si n ger, Ta n ker B u d dies: C hi nese Na v y J- 1 5 Fi g hter Pl a nes Ref uel i n Fli g ht, 7 M a y , accesse d at w w w. p o psci.c o m/ bl o g- net w or k/easter n- arse n al/t a n kerb u d dies-c hi nese- n a v y-j- 1 5-fi g hter- pl a nes-ref uel-fli g ht. 9 1 S ee Retreat fr o m R a n ge by Dr. Jerr y He n dri x of C N A S ( U S N retire d) o n p a ge 4 6 f or a disc ussi o n of t he li mit ati o ns of t he F/ A- 1 8 E/ F as a n air b or ne t a n ker. 9 2 I nf or m ati o n w as access e d at w w w.c hi n a- ar ms.c o m/ / 0 1/il air-ref u eli n g- pl a n e- u n veil e d- by-c hi n es e- milit ar y/ a n d w w w.c hi n a- ar ms.c o m/t a g/c hi n as-il aeri al-ref ueli n g- pl a ne/ b ase d o n articles p oste d o nli ne o n 3 J a n u ar y I bi d. 9 4 Li D o n g d o n g, S u n H u ai h ai, a n d H o u R ui, Ferreti n g O ut t h e Bl ac k S h ar k U n d er t h e Vast S e a -- A n E ye wit ness Acc o u nt o n t he Ne w Ye ar s First Att ac k o n a S u b m ari ne by a Helic o pter Re gi me nt of t he E ast S e a Fleet Avi ati o n, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 0 J a n u ar y , p. 2. Qi u H a o h a n, Z h u Li nli n, Wa n g Qi n g h o u, a n d Wa n g Ji n g: S orties, Fi g hters St a ge Ass a ults i n t h e Air A b o ve t he S e a -- S n a ps h ots of N ort h S e a Fleet Air U nit s Fli g ht Tr ai ni n g i n O ne D a y, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 9 M a y , p Qi u H a o h a n, Z h u Li nli n, Wa n g Qi n g h o u, a n d Wa n g Ji n g: S orties, Fi g hters St a ge Ass a ults i n t h e Air A b o ve t he S e a -- S n a ps h ots of N ort h S e a Fleet Air U nit s Fli g ht Tr ai ni n g i n O ne D a y, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 9 M a y , p

86 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) 9 6 Li a n g Qi n gs o n g a n d P u H ai y a n g, De pl oyi n g t he R a n ks i n B attle Arr a y i n t he Wester n Pacific, T hree M aj or Fl e ets Partici p at e i n E xercis e To E n h a nc e T h eir C o m b at C a p a biliti es A m a zi n g Hi g hli g hts of Act u al- Tr o o p O p p osi n g F orce Drills i n t h e M a n e u ver- 5 E xercis e, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 8 Oct o ber , p Hist or y of Na v al Avi ati o n, Re n mi n H aij u n, 5 S e pte m ber , p J R P otts, T he Be n g b u c or vette is t he lea d s hi p of t he ne w Ty pe Ji a n g d a o-cl ass of c or vettes f or t he P L A N, 2 9 J ul y , w hic h w as accesse d at w w w. milit ar yf act or y. c o m/s hi ps/ det ail. as p?s hi p _i d = Be n g b u t y pe Wa n F us he n g, Li Bi n g k u n, a n d W u S h a n gr ui, Ni g ht h a w k Ret ur ns t o Nest: Wit nessi n g t he B e n g b u s First Ni g htti m e H elic o pt er L a n di n g Tr ai ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 5 Dece m ber , p K o u Yo n g qi a n g, Li Yi mi n, a n d Li X uef e n g, Ta ke Off Fr o m t h e R u n w a y U n d er C o n diti o ns of Act u al C o m b at -- A n E ye- Wit ness Acc o u nt of t he Eff orts M a de by a S o ut h S e a Fleet Di visi o n To E n h a nc e Its C a p a bilit y To Pr o vi d e C o m pre h e nsi ve S u p p ort t o M ulti pl e Ty p es of Aircr aft, Re n mi n H aij u n 2 6 Fe br u ar y , p F or e x a m pl e, o n 1 4 J a n u ar y , a n E S F helic o pter re gi me nt scr a m bl e d t hree h elic o pt ers fr o m its h o m e b as e t o c o n d uct its first A S W o per ati o ns of t he ye ar i n t he E ast C hi n a S e a. T he helic o pters fle w i n f or m ati o n a n d be g a n by dr o p pi n g s o n ar de vices at v ari o us l oc ati o ns. U p o n fi n di n g t he s u b m ari ne, t he helic o pters tr a ns mitte d t he d at a t o t he l a n d- b ase d c o m m a n d ce nter i n t he u nit s c o ntr ol t o wer. T he re gi me nt s c o m m a n d er g a ve t he or d er t o stri ke t he s u b m ari n e usi n g air-l a u nc h e d t or p e d o es. S ee Z h a n g Qi a n, J u Z he n h u a, a n d Wa n g Z hi pe n g, E S F Destr oyer Fl otill a Ac hie ves Ne w Brea kt hr o u g h i n S hi p- H elic o pt er C o or di n at e d Tr ai ni n g: O n e S hi p Si m ult a n e o usl y C o m m a n ds 3 Ty pes of S hi p b or ne Helic o pters, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 5 A pril , p Z h a n g Qi a n, J u Z he n h u a, a n d Wa n g Z hi pe n g, E S F Destr oyer Fl otill a Ac hie ves Ne w Brea kt hr o u g h i n S hi p- H elic o pt er C o or di n at e d Tr ai ni n g: O n e S hi p Si m ult a n e o usl y C o m m a n ds 3 Ty pes of S hi p b or ne Helic o pters, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 5 A pril , p H u B a oli a n g, K a n g Z hij u n, a n d Wa n g Ji n g, Milit ar y a n d Ci vili a n F orces Wor k To get her t o M a ke R us h Re p air o n t he R o a d t o Heave n, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 J u ne , p Z h a n g Qi a n, J u Z he n h u a, a n d Wa n g Z hi pe n g, E S F Destr oyer Fl otill a Ac hie ves Ne w Brea kt hr o u g h i n S hi p- H elic o pt er C o or di n at e d Tr ai ni n g: O n e S hi p Si m ult a n e o usl y C o m m a n ds 3 Ty pes of S hi p b or ne Helic o pters, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 5 A pril , p A n dre w Eric ks o n & A usti n Str a n ge, S elfis h S u p er p o wer N o L o n ger? C hi n a s A nti- Pir ac y Acti viti es a n d 2 1st- C e nt ur y Gl o b al M ariti m e G o ver n a nce, H ar v ar d Asi a Q u arterl y, S pri n g/ S u m mer , Vol XI V, N o. 1 &

87 P L A N A V A L A VI A TI O N T R AI NI N G A N D O P E R A TI O N S Qi u H a o h a n, Z h u Li nli n, Wa n g Qi n g h o u, a n d Wa n g Ji n g, S orties, War h a w ks St a ge Ass a ults i n t h e Air A b o ve t he S e a -- S n a ps h ots of N ort h S e a Fleet Air U nit s Fli g ht Tr ai ni n g i n O ne D a y, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 9 M a y , p M a Jij u n a n d H u a n g Li a n g, Breat ht a ki n g C o m b at as Ass a ults Are L a u nc he d i n a S e a of Na v al Mi nes -- Wit nessi n g t he Br a ver y Li ve- F orce Na v al Mi ne Warf are Drill, Re n mi n H aij u n, 3 0 S e pte m ber , p Z h a n g Ta o a n d Li Bi nf u, Air b or ne C o m m a n d P ost M a kes Att ac ks Q uic k a n d Acc ur ate I nf or m ati o n o n N ort h C hi n a S e a Fl e et Na v al Avi ati o n Li ve Tr o o p C o nfr o nt ati o n Drills, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 6 N o ve m ber , p Z h o u S hi wei a n d G a o H o n g wei, M a n y Aircr aft C o or di n ati n g, H ac ki n g At a n O bsti n ate E ne m y i n t h e Cl o u ds: S o ut h S e a Fleet Avi ati o n Or g a ni z es M ulti- Br a nc h J oi nt O p p ositi o n- f orce Tr ai ni n g E xercise, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 1 A u g ust , p Z h a n g D a o, e d., Na v al a vi ati o n J- 1 1 fi g hters c o n d uct fli g ht tr ai ni n g, C hi n a Milit ar y O nli ne, 3 1 Oct o ber , accesse d at htt p://e n glis h.c hi n a mil.c o m.c n/ ne wsc h a n n els/ / 3 1/c o nte nt _ ht m. A n kit Pa n d a, C hi n es e J- 1 1 Fi g ht ers E xercis e i n t he S o ut h C hi n a S e a After U S Na v y Patr ols, T he Di pl o m at, 2 N o ve m ber , accesse d at htt p://t h e di pl o m at.c o m/ / 1 1/c hi n es e-j- 1 1-fi g ht ers- e xercis e-i n-t h e-s o ut h-c hi n a-s e a- after- us- n a v y- p atr ols/ C hi n a d e pl oys fi g hter jets t o c o nteste d isl a n d i n S o ut h C hi n a S e a, A ge nce Fr a nce- Presse ( A F P), 2 4 Fe br u ar y , f o u n d at w w w.tele gr a p h.c o. u k/ ne ws/ w orl d ne ws/ asi a/ c hi n a/ / C hi n a- d e pl oys-fi g ht er-j ets-t o-c o nt est e d-isl a n d-i n- S o ut h- C hi n a- S e a. ht ml Z h a n Keji a, Fa n g Li h u a, Z h a n g Ji a n, a n d Li u Z he n gl u, E ast S e a Fleet J oi nt O per ati o ns C o m m a n d, Re n mi n H aij u n, 4 S e pte m ber , p T he P L A Na v y tr a nsl at es z hi d ui as d et ac h m e nt, w hic h is a di visi o n l e a d er- gr a d e hea d q u arters f or n a v al vessels; h o we ver, Wester n p u blic ati o ns us u all y tr a nsl ate it as fl otill a or n a v al s hi p bri g a de. S e e P L A Milit ar y Ter mi nolo g y ( 中国人民解放军军语 ), B eiji n g: Ac a de m y of Milit ar y Scie nce Press, Fe br u ar y , p Li u We n pi n g, Li Di n g, Wa n g Yaj u n, a n d H u a n g Li a n g, A N ort h S e a Fleet B ase Or g a ni z es Researc h a n d Tr ai ni n g i n J uris dicti o n al Area J oi nt Def e nsi ve O per ati o ns, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 8 A u g ust , p N ote t h at t he P L A be g a n ref erri n g t o i n di vi d u al milit ar y re gi o ns as t heater c o m m a n ds d uri n g exercises as earl y as t h e e arl y s. It w as n ot u ntil t h at t he P L A f or m all y est a blis he d t he fi ve per m a ne nt T heater C o m m a n ds t o re pl ace t he se ve n milit ar y re gi o ns. 7 2

88 MI S SI O N S, O R G A NI Z A TI O N A L S T R U C T U R E, A N D T R AI NI N G ( ) Z h a o H ait a o a n d Z h a n g H e n g, L a y Fir m F o u n d ati o n f or J oi nt Tr ai ni n g, D e e p e n D e gree of J oi nt O per ati o n, a n d R aise J oi nt C o m b at C a p a bilit y; Na v y Will J oi ntl y Or g a ni z e wit h Air F orce Free Air War C o nfr o nt ati o n Drill, Re n mi n H aij u n, 2 0 A u g ust , p. 1. Yi n K u n z e, Z h a n g He n g, a n d Z h a o H ait a o, A D u el of H er o es -- E ye wit ness t o t he First Na v y a n d Air F orc e Free Aeri al Warf are C o nfr o nt ati o n Drill, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 S e pt e m b er , p. 1. Li u We n pi n g, Z h a o H ait a o, a n d J u Z he n h u a, Fl yi n g a g ai nst a G ol de n Hel met, C hi n a Ar me d Forces m a g a zi ne, i n C hi nese a n d E n glis h, N o. 3 2, Vol 2, , p I nf or m ati o n a b o ut t he Her oic E a gle Re gi me nt w as accesse d at w w w. b ai ke.c o m/ wi ki/ % E 6 % B 5 % B 7 % E 7 % A 9 % B A % E 9 % 9 B % 8 4 % E 9 % B 9 % B 0 % E 5 % 9 B % A 2. Yi n K u n z e, X u Xi a os ai, Z h a n g H e n g a n d Z h a o H ait a o:, Freest yle Air C o m b at, I n P urs uit of t he Real Mea ni n g of Fi g hti n g Wi n ni n g Wars Rec or d of C o nte m pl ati o ns o n a Cert ai n Re gi me nt of E ast S e a Fleet Na v y Avi ati o n H ol di n g Li ve C o m b at Orie nte d Tr ai ni n g, Re n mi n H aij u n, 1 6 S e pte m ber , p Qi u Y ue, E x pert: J oi nt Na v y a n d Air F orce E xercise B o osts Stre n gt h t o S ei z e Air S u pre m ac y a n d Gi ves Pl a y t o t h e Na v y s A bilit y To Att ac k, Re n mi n Wa n g, 4 N o ve m ber , f o u n d at htt p:// milit ar y. p e o pl e.c o m.c n/ n/ / /c ht ml. M ulti ple Ty p es of Aircr aft fr o m O ur Air F orc e a n d Na v al Avi ati o n Partici p ate d i n S h ar p S w or d Act u al- C o m b at E xercise, Xi n h u a, 2 N o ve m ber , f o u n d at htt p:// ne ws. xi n h u a net. c o m/ p h ot o/ / 0 2/c _ ht m. G u a n g z h o u M R A F a n d S S F Na v al Avi ati o n Or g a ni z es S h ar p S w or d Act u al- C o m b at E xercis e, 3 N o ve m b er , f o u n d at htt p:// w ar c o m/ 1 5/ / 0 7/ B 7 F U E 3J O V F. ht ml T he P L A uses t he ter m z hi ko n g q u a n ( 制空权 ), w hic h it tr a nsl ates as c o m m a n d of t he air, w hic h g oes b ac k t o t he s. As t he P L A A F s a n d Na v al Avi ati o n s aircr aft h a ve bec o me m ore a d v a nce d, es peci all y t heir l o n ger r a n ges a n d o n- b o ar d wea p o ns, t he b asic mea ni n g of c o m m a n d of t he air h as c h a n ge d. B ase d o n a re vie w of t he w a ys c o m m a n d of t he air is use d, it a p pears t o mea n c o m m a n d of a p artic ul ar air s p ace f or a p artic ul ar a m o u nt of ti me w hil e c ert ai n acti vities are t a ki n g pl ace, n ot c o m m a n d of t h e s a m e airs p ac e 2 4 h o ur a d a y f or a le n gt hy peri o d of ti me (e. g., air s u peri orit y a n d air s u pre m ac y) Qi u Y ue: E x pert: J oi nt Na v y a n d Air F orce E xercise B o osts Stre n gt h t o S ei z e Air S u pre m ac y a n d Gi ves Pl a y t o t h e Na v y s A bilit y To Att ac k; C hi n es e Air F orc e s H- 6 K B o m bers Ta ke Part i n S h ar p S w or d [liji a n ] Real- Tr o o p E xercise. Re n mi n Wa n g, 4 N o ve m ber , F or m ore o n t h e Li ao ni n g, s e e A n dre w S. Eric ks o n, A br a h a m M. D e n m ar k, G a bri el C olli ns, B eiji n g s St arter C arrier a n d F ut ure Ste ps: Alt er n ati ves a n d I m plic ati o ns, N a v al War Colle ge Re vie w, Wi nter T he U nite d St ates Na v y, f or exa m ple, str u g gle d f or d ec a d es a n d s uff ere d t h o us a n ds of l oss es as it tr ai n e d a vi at ors o n t he first U S N o per ati o n al fi g hter jet, t he F 1 P h a nt o m, i n R o bert C. R u b el, T h e U. S. Na v y s Tr a nsiti o n t o Jets, N a v al War Colle ge Re vie w, S pri n g