Exercises Modernization

A Glimpse into a Naval Aviation Unit's Around-the-Clock Coordinated Training

海军航空兵某部跨昼夜协同训练见闻

PLA Daily (解放军报) 15 May 2026

Summary

A PLA Naval Aviation unit at an unspecified airfield in southern China conducted around-the-clock coordinated training integrating airborne early warning aircraft and fighter formations, with exercise control injecting electromagnetic jamming and simulated enemy situations to stress-test data link resilience and multi-aircraft tactical coordination across day and night phases. The exercise is consistent with the PLA's sustained emphasis on system-of-systems operational concepts (体系作战能力) and anti-jamming contingency procedures, and the explicit focus on restoring severed data links under electromagnetic suppression provides a concrete indicator of where Naval Aviation units are investing training effort to address recognized vulnerability. The announcement follows a recognizable PLA Daily format for showcasing combat-realistic training and contains no order-of-battle or equipment disclosures beyond what is already publicly associated with PLA naval aviation AEW operations.

Translation

Striking as a System, Tempering the Sword Above the Clouds — A Glimpse into a Naval Aviation Unit's Around-the-Clock Coordinated Training

■ Luo Chenjian, PLA Daily Special Correspondent Yu Hang

Recently, engines roared at an airfield in southern China as multiple aircraft of a Naval Aviation unit stood ready to launch.

"Take off!" At the commander's order, the aircraft lifted off in succession and headed directly for the designated training airspace, marking the start of an around-the-clock coordinated training exercise. The training, it is understood, incorporated combat-realistic subjects including early warning reconnaissance and alert patrol, aimed at testing personnel's battlefield monitoring and system-of-systems operational capabilities (体系作战能力).

Upon reaching the target airspace, the airborne early warning aircraft crew immediately shifted to a combat-ready state and successively conducted training in early warning reconnaissance, command, and guidance; the fighter aircraft formation deployed in echelon and occupied positions along separate axes, establishing a three-dimensional offensive and defensive operational posture.

"Under heavy electromagnetic suppression!" Above the clouds, the command post transmitted an exercise special situation (导调特情): the aircraft data links were severed one after another, and the airborne early warning crew immediately lost situational awareness information.

"Switch to anti-jamming mode." Confronting the special situation, the airborne early warning aircraft commander decisively issued the order, directing the crew to activate the anti-jamming contingency plan. With close coordination among all crew stations, the crew rapidly reestablished the data link and restored communications with the ground command post and the airborne fighter formation, sharing battlefield situational awareness in real time.

"This training was conducted against a combat-realistic backdrop, with on-the-spot exercise control throughout." The unit's leadership stated that they set complex jamming conditions during training to test the coordinated operational capabilities of multiple aircraft types including airborne early warning aircraft and fighter aircraft. Moreover, the exercise control group issued multiple categories of sudden "enemy situation" (敌情) in real time based on the aerial situation, compelling personnel to break out of routine contingency plans and fixed thinking patterns, and to hone their emergency response and tactical coordination capabilities in unfamiliar airspace and under complex conditions. Multiple tactical methods and approaches were put to the test.

As night fell, the previous sortie of training aircraft had just returned to base when the next sortie lifted off in succession, and personnel transitioned into the nighttime training phase. The airborne early warning crew, relying on onboard radar equipment, continuously conducted target search and reconnaissance, pushing battlefield information to the fighter formation in real time to ensure smooth aerial information channels.

Forward alert, flank cover… In the darkness, the fighter formation continuously adjusted flight positions based on the latest situational data provided by the airborne early warning aircraft and detected targets first.

"Target locked!" The fighter aircraft seized the optimal attack window and decisively conducted a simulated strike, successfully completing the established training objectives.

"On the modern maritime and air battlefield, what counts is speed of reaction; what is competed over is victory through system-of-systems superiority (体系制胜); and the key is to achieve detection before the enemy, decision before the enemy, and strike before the enemy." The unit's leadership stated that in recent years, anchored to the goal of "being on combat readiness at all times and capable of fighting at any moment" (全时待战、随时能战), they have continuously deepened combat-realistic training and joint operations training (实战实训、联战联训), and through such measures as refining aircraft sortie procedures and conducting complex special-situation response training, have forged personnel's rapid reaction and coordinated operational capabilities, steadily raising the unit's level of combat preparedness.

Original Chinese

体系出击云端淬剑 ——海军航空兵某部跨昼夜协同训练见闻 ■罗陈建解放军报特约记者于航日前，南国某机场引擎轰鸣，海军航空兵某部多架战机蓄势待发。 “起飞！”随着指挥员一声令下，战机接续升空，直奔预定训练空域，一场跨昼夜协同训练打响。据了解，此次训练设置了预警侦察、警戒巡逻等实战化科目，旨在检验官兵战场监控和体系作战能力。抵达目标空域，预警机机组立即转入实战状态，相继展开预警侦察、指挥引导等科目训练；歼击机群梯次布防、分路占位，构筑立体攻防作战态势。 “遭强电磁压制！”云端之上，指挥所传来导调特情，战机数据链相继中断，预警机机组随即丢失态势信息。 “切换抗干扰模式。”面对特情，预警机机长果断下达指令，指挥机组启动抗干扰预案。在各战位密切配合下，机组快速重建数据链，恢复与地面指挥所、空中歼击机群的通信，实时共享战场态势。 “此次训练紧贴实战背景展开，全程临机导调。”该部领导表示，他们在训练中设置复杂干扰条件，检验预警机、歼击机等多机型协同作战能力。不仅如此，导调组根据空中态势实时下达多类突发“敌情”，倒逼官兵跳出常规预案、打破固有思维，在陌生空域和复杂条件下磨炼应急处置、战术协同能力，多项战术战法经受检验。夜幕降临，前一批次参训战机刚刚归巢，下一批次战机接续升空，官兵转入夜间训练阶段。预警机机组依托机载雷达设备，持续开展目标侦搜，实时向歼击机群推送战场信息，确保空中信息通路顺畅。前出警戒、侧翼掩护……夜色中，歼击机群依托预警机提供的最新态势数据，不断调整飞行阵位，率先发现目标。 “目标锁定！”歼击机抓住最佳攻击窗口，果断开展模拟打击，顺利完成既定训练任务。 “现代海空战场上，拼的是反应速度，比的是体系制胜，关键是要做到先敌发现、先敌决策、先敌打击。”该部领导表示，近年来，他们锚定“全时待战、随时能战”目标，持续深化实战实训、联战联训，通过细化战机出动流程、开展复杂特情处置训练等举措，锤炼官兵快速反应和协同作战能力，部队备战打仗水平稳步提升。