Exercises

Tempering the Sword by Starlight! A Close Look at Air Force Aviation Unit Night Flight Training

星夜砺剑！直击空军航空兵夜间飞行训练现场

PLA Daily (解放军报) 12 June 2026

Summary

Multiple PLAAF aviation units — operating J-10, J-16, and JH-7 aircraft — conducted night flight training across at least eight documented sorties, with a PLA Daily reporter embedding across multiple bases to photograph the full operational cycle from pre-flight inspection through post-landing maintenance. The article documents the breadth of airframes involved in sustained night training rather than a single-unit exercise, extending the established pattern of PLAAF emphasis on low-visibility and nighttime combat proficiency that has appeared consistently in official media over the past several years; the specific inclusion of the JH-7 strike aircraft alongside the J-10 and J-16 confirms that night training requirements extend to older-generation platforms still in the inventory, not only frontline fighters.

Translation

How do we guard ten thousand li of sky and space, and preserve peace forever? How do we fight through ink-black night and remain invincible? A reporter made eight separate trips to the front lines of combat training and war preparation, embedding with multiple Air Force aviation units to track and photograph night flight training—experiencing the mountain-toppling roar of combat aircraft and witnessing the mysterious splendor of exhaust flames illuminating the sky. Beneath the boundless night canopy, aircraft after aircraft stand arrayed with heads raised, trail after trail of flight paths crisscross the heavens. Officers and soldiers take the night sky as their battlefield and their aircraft as their blade, tempering the sword by starlight (星夜砺剑), training rigorously and preparing for real combat, honing their skills through hard practice and precision flying to forge the capabilities needed to win battles. With loyal dedication they guard the rivers and mountains of a prosperous age, fulfilling the resounding oath of the guardians of the aerospace domain (空天卫士) to sleep with weapons at the ready and defend home and country.

Pilots proceed to the hangars to prepare to receive their aircraft.

A pilot conducts a final pre-flight inspection.

After completing the aircraft inspection, a pilot boards quickly.

A pilot boards quickly in preparation for taxiing out.

Before the aircraft taxis out, the pilot conducts a flight control system check.

A J-10 aircraft taxis to the takeoff line, preparing to take off after sunset.

A J-16 aircraft taxis to the takeoff line in preparation for takeoff.

A J-10 aircraft climbs with afterburner into the last rays of sunset.

A JH-7 aircraft roars into the sky.

After becoming airborne, a J-10 aircraft proceeds to the designated training airspace.

A J-16 aircraft roars into the sky.

While aircraft are airborne conducting flight training, ground crew personnel organize and prepare support equipment.

At dawn, a JH-7 aircraft returns from completing all training subjects.

After landing, a JH-7 aircraft deploys its drag chute.

After completing their flight missions, pilots exchange debriefs with one another.

After the aircraft return, ground crew personnel conduct inspection and maintenance.

Flight training concluded, ground crew personnel cover the aircraft with protective tarps.

Text: Mei Changwei　Photography: Fan Xianhai

Original Chinese

守空天万里，何以永保安宁？战夜色如墨，何以所向披靡？记者先后8次奔赴练兵备战一线，深入多支空军航空兵部队跟踪拍摄夜航训练，感受战鹰呼啸的排山声浪，见证尾焰烛空的神秘绚烂。无边夜幕之下，一架架战机昂首列阵，一道道航迹纵横天际，官兵们以夜空为战场，以战机为利刃，星夜砺剑、严训实备，苦练精飞锤炼胜战本领，忠诚担当守护盛世山河，践行着空天卫士枕戈待旦、护卫家国的铮铮誓言。飞行员前往机棚准备接收飞机。飞行员进行飞行前最后检查。飞行员检查完飞机后快速登机。飞行员快速登机准备滑出。飞机滑出前，飞行员进行飞控系统检查。歼-10战机滑向起飞线，准备日落后起飞。歼-16战机滑至起飞线准备起飞。歼-10战机迎着最后一缕霞光加力升空。歼轰-7战机呼啸升空。歼-10战机升空后奔赴指定训练空域。歼-16战机呼啸升空。战机升空进行飞行训练期间，地勤人员整理保障装备。拂晓时刻，歼轰-7战机完成全部训练课目返航。歼轰-7战机着陆后打开减速伞。完成飞行任务后，飞行员相互交流。战机返回后，地勤人员进行检查维护。战机返回后，地勤人员进行检查维护。飞行训练结束，地勤人员为战机披盖蒙布。文字：梅常伟摄影：范显海