Exercises Modernization

"Zhiying" Patrols Sea and Sky in the Dark of Night! A Naval Aviation Regiment Conducts UAV Nighttime Reconnaissance Training

“智鹰”暗夜巡海空！海军航空兵某团组织无人机夜间侦察训练

PLA Daily (解放军报) 2 August 2026

Summary

A PLA Naval Aviation regiment conducted a midnight UAV nighttime reconnaissance exercise using the 'Zhiying' (鸢影) UAV, embedding randomized complex special situations (复杂特情) to stress-test crew emergency response and inter-position coordination under maritime cloud, fog, and airspace restriction conditions. The article documents the regiment's effort to close a readiness gap created by accelerated UAV fielding: specifically, building a combat information database across weather conditions, airspace types, and target categories, and issuing pocket-sized emergency response reference cards (应急处置口袋书) to standardize crew decision-making. The framing points to persistent challenges in precise target identification and payload operator proficiency rather than a capability breakthrough.

Translation

At midnight in the height of summer, the night was dark as ink. A sharp alarm bell suddenly rang out, and a UAV nighttime reconnaissance training exercise of a Naval Aviation regiment got underway. Officers and soldiers participating in the training moved on command, rapidly rushing to their respective combat positions.

"In recent years, multiple new types of UAVs have been fielded to units at an accelerating pace, placing higher demands on the quality of officers and soldiers," the regiment's leadership introduced. They keep a close eye on battlefield requirements, routinely organize emergency rapid-deployment specialized training, and randomly embed multiple complex special situations (复杂特情) to temper flight crews' emergency response and inter-position coordination capabilities.

At the training site, on the commander's order, the UAV lifted off and accelerated toward the mission airspace. Payload operator Luo Shiyu switched to reconnaissance mode and began conducting search and surveillance like "sifting through a sieve."

"Suspicious target detected!" Suddenly, a faint bright point on the display screen caught Luo Shiyu's attention. After a preliminary assessment of the target's characteristics, he reported the target's bearing information to the mission group leader. Operator Wang Zijun, based on the target's position, rapidly adjusted the "Zhiying's" flight attitude and course.

However, due to airspace restrictions, the UAV adjusted its angle multiple times but was still unable to obtain a clear image. After analysis and assessment, the mission group leader reported to the commander and requested permission to proceed to another airspace. Shortly thereafter, the walkie-talkie carried the instruction: "Approved to change position for reconnaissance."

Soon, the UAV closed in on the target. Unexpectedly, the results of the information assessment showed that this target was not the intended reconnaissance target.

"The target to be reconnoitered moves fast and operates over a wide area—precisely locking onto it is no easy task," the mission group leader told the reporter. To rigorously temper officers and soldiers' solid capabilities, they have compiled target information accumulated from reconnaissance in past missions, explored the establishment of a combat information database covering complex weather conditions, different airspace characteristics, and multiple target types, organized officers and soldiers to conduct special research on target categories and identification methods, analyzed the movement trajectories and activity characteristics of different targets, and targeted upgrades to tactics and training methods (战法训法).

The contest continued. Crew members repeatedly assessed the adversary's intentions based on the situational display map and selected reconnaissance positions. In the end, Luo Shiyu successfully screened out interference factors and precisely locked onto the target. To prevent the reconnaissance payload from being disrupted by maritime cloud and fog, he employed manual control throughout, keeping the target firmly fixed at the center of the display screen.

"Detection, identification, measurement—every step is a race against the clock," the regiment's leadership introduced. Before this training commenced, they summarized past experience and produced pocket-sized emergency response reference cards (应急处置口袋书) for officers and soldiers to consult quickly, improving crew emergency response levels; they used simulators to increase training frequency, and by simulating actual airborne flight conditions, compelled officers and soldiers to strengthen their independent judgment capabilities and improve combat coordination proficiency across all positions.

With the mission complete, the UAV returned safely. The participating officers and soldiers gathered together for an after-action review and discussion, focusing on shortcomings and weaknesses in inter-position coordination, tactical application, and other areas, to further refine flight plans and prepare for the next engagement.

Original Chinese

盛夏子夜，夜色如墨。急促的警铃骤然响起，海军航空兵某团一场无人机夜间侦察训练拉开战幕。参训官兵闻令而动，迅速奔赴各自战位。 “近年来，多种新型无人机加速列装部队，对官兵的素养提出更高要求。”该团领导介绍，他们紧盯战场需求，常态组织紧急拉动专项训练，随机嵌入多种复杂特情，锤炼飞行班组应急处置、岗位协同能力。训练现场，随着指挥员一声令下，无人机起飞离地，加速飞赴任务空域。载荷员罗世钰切换侦察模式，像“过筛子”一样展开侦搜。 “发现可疑目标！”突然，显示屏上一个微弱的亮点引起罗世钰的注意。初步研判目标属性后，他将目标方位信息上报任务组组长。操控员王子俊根据目标所处位置，迅速调整“智鹰”飞行姿态和航线。然而，受空域范围限制，无人机多次调整角度，仍无法获取清晰画面。任务组组长分析研判后，上报指挥员请求前往另一空域。不多时，对讲机里传来“允许更换阵位侦察”的指令。很快，无人机抵近目标。出乎意料的是，信息研判结果显示，该目标并非待侦察目标。 “待侦察目标移速快、活动范围广，精准锁定并非易事。”任务组组长告诉记者，为扎实锤炼官兵过硬本领，他们汇总以往任务中侦搜积累的目标信息，探索建立涵盖复杂天气条件、不同空域特征、多种目标类型的作战信息数据库，组织官兵针对目标类别、判别手段等展开专题研究，分析不同目标的运动轨迹、活动特点，有针对性地升级战法训法。较量仍在继续。班组成员根据态势图，反复研判对手意图，研选侦察阵位。最终，罗世钰成功规避干扰项，精准锁定目标。为防止侦察载荷受到海上云雾干扰，他全程采取手动方式控制，将目标牢牢锁定在显示屏中央。 “发现、甄别、测量，每个环节都分秒必争。”该团领导介绍，此次训练展开前，他们总结以往经验，制作便于官兵快速查阅的应急处置口袋书，提高班组应急处置水平；利用模拟器增加训练频次，通过模拟空中飞行实况，倒逼官兵练强自主判别能力，提升各战位协同作战熟练度。任务结束，无人机安全返航。参训官兵齐聚一堂复盘研讨，围绕岗位协同、战术运用等方面的短板弱项，进一步完善飞行预案，为下一场战斗做好准备。