Exercises Modernization

A Naval Unit Joins Friendly Neighboring Forces for Joint Training

海军某部携手友邻部队开展联合训练见闻

PLA Daily (解放军报) 23 May 2026

Summary

An unidentified naval unit — operating a special-mission aircraft alongside surface vessels and fighter aircraft from unnamed 'friendly neighboring' formations — conducted a high-intensity, all-element joint exercise in an unspecified maritime and airspace area in early summer, practicing coordinated detection, interception, and strike under simulated electromagnetic jamming and equipment failures. The exercise documents a tri-domain (air, surface, electromagnetic) integration drill built around the special-mission aircraft as the central node for targeting and coordination — a role consistent with PLA emphasis on airborne early warning and control assets as joint-force connective tissue. The unit's framing of training as 战争的预实践 ('pre-practice of war') and its deliberate injection of 危局, 险局, and 难局 ('dangerous, perilous, and difficult situations') fits the post-2016 actual-combat training push, though the absence of unit designators, location, and platform identification leaves the exercise's scale and command relationship to a theater joint operations command unknown.

Translation

Multidomain Networking, Coordinated Victory — A Naval Unit Joins Friendly Neighboring Forces for Joint Training

■ Wang Haojing, PLA Daily Special Correspondent Hao Yongfei

In early summer, a naval unit joined friendly neighboring surface vessel and fighter aircraft units to conduct a high-intensity, all-element joint training exercise in a maritime and airspace area.

"Take off!" At the commander's order, a special-mission aircraft from the unit was the first to roar off the ground. Simultaneously, multiple fighter aircraft from friendly neighboring units ignited their afterburners and lifted off in sequence. Upon reaching the designated airspace, the special-mission aircraft and fighter aircraft rapidly formed up and maneuvered toward the mission airspace along a predetermined route.

"Unidentified aerial target detected!" Inside the special-mission aircraft's cabin, the crew captured an anomalous signal and swiftly completed target identification and parameter calibration. "Continuously track and determine target attributes; simultaneously push information to all combat units!" As the airborne commander issued the order, each combat unit entered a combat-ready state.

Upon receiving target information provided by the special-mission aircraft, surface vessels took the lead in conducting detection while the fighter aircraft formation simultaneously moved forward. The lead pilot maintained tactical formation with the wingman and, guided by the special-mission aircraft, rapidly closed with the "enemy." At the same time, the special-mission aircraft continuously updated target dynamics and issued coordinated alert orders to maritime forces, and a three-dimensional interception net was promptly spread.

Above the clouds, the situation was deadlocked. The special-mission aircraft suddenly came under intense "enemy" electromagnetic jamming, and the target signal was lost. At the critical moment, the special-mission aircraft crew activated the anti-jamming emergency contingency plan, switched to a backup communications mode, transmitted key information to the surface vessels, and guided them to strike the "enemy" — the target was successfully "shot down."

"As a pre-practice of war (战争的预实践), the closer military training is to actual combat, the closer the force is to winning." The unit's leadership explained that by constructing dangerous situations (危局), perilous situations (险局), and difficult situations (难局), they routinely conduct joint training with friendly neighboring forces and randomly introduce special situations such as strong electromagnetic jamming and equipment malfunctions, guiding officers and soldiers to temper their actual combat capabilities under extreme conditions.

"Locked on by the 'enemy'!" No sooner had one wave subsided than another arose: during the coordinated interception, a fighter aircraft was suddenly locked on by an "enemy" aircraft. The fighter pilot rapidly released chaff and flares and executed high-G maneuvering. Simultaneously, the special-mission aircraft quickly dispatched nearby fighter aircraft to provide tactical support, pin down the "enemy" aircraft's actions, and directed maritime air-defense fire units to provide fire support. In the end, the fighter aircraft successfully broke free of the "enemy" aircraft's lock.

On the command post's situational display screen, aircraft tracks crisscrossed. The fighter aircraft formation engaged the "enemy" aircraft again. The special-mission aircraft continuously reported the battlefield situation to the fighter formation and provided tactical guidance, precisely coordinating sea and air combat forces for efficient cooperation. In the end, under the coordinated guidance of the special-mission aircraft and vessel radars, the fighter formation precisely locked onto the target and successfully conducted a simulated strike.

When training concluded, the participating officers and soldiers had no time to rest and immediately launched a joint after-action review. Focusing on key areas including coordination process linkage, communications link support, and emergency special-situation handling, they went through training data item by item and analyzed video footage frame by frame, conducting an in-depth search for shortcomings and weaknesses in the training, jointly studying and formulating targeted remediation measures, and clarifying the direction for follow-on training.

Original Chinese

立体组网协同制胜 ——海军某部携手友邻部队开展联合训练见闻 ■王浩景解放军报特约通讯员郝勇飞初夏时节，海军某部联合友邻舰艇、歼击机等部队，在某海空域展开一场高强度、全要素联合训练。 “起飞！”随着指挥员一声令下，该部一架特种机率先呼啸着飞离地面。与此同时，来自友邻部队的多架歼击机依次加力升空。抵达指定空域后，特种机与歼击机快速完成编组，按照预定航线向任务空域机动。 “发现不明空中目标！”特种机机舱内，机组官兵捕捉到异常信号，迅速完成目标识别、参数标定。“持续跟踪判别目标属性，同步推送信息至各作战单元！”随着空中指挥长下达指令，各作战单元进入战斗状态。接到特种机提供的目标信息后，水面舰艇率先展开侦测，歼击机编队同步前出。长机飞行员驾机与僚机保持战术队形，在特种机引导下迅速接“敌”。与此同时，特种机持续更新目标动态，并向海上兵力发出协同警戒指令，一张立体拦截网随即铺开。云端之上，战况胶着。特种机突遭“敌”强电磁干扰，目标信号随即丢失。关键时刻，特种机机组官兵启动抗干扰应急预案，切换备用通信模式，将关键信息传输至水面舰艇，引导其对“敌”实施打击，目标被成功“击落”。 “作为战争的预实践，军事训练离实战越近，部队离打赢就越近。”该部领导介绍，他们通过构设危局、险局、难局，常态携手友邻部队开展联合训练，随机设置强电磁干扰、装备故障等特情，引导官兵在极限条件下锤炼实战本领。 “遭‘敌’锁定！”一波刚平，一波又起，一架歼击机在协同拦截过程中，突遭“敌”机锁定。歼击机飞行员迅速释放干扰弹，实施大过载机动。与此同时，特种机快速调度附近歼击机实施战术策应，牵制“敌”机行动，并指挥海上防空火力单元进行火力支援。最终，歼击机成功摆脱“敌”机锁定。指挥所态势屏上，战机轨迹交织。歼击机编队与“敌”机再次交手。特种机持续为歼击机编队通报战场态势、提供战术引导，精准调度海空作战力量高效配合。最终，在特种机与舰艇雷达协同引导下，歼击机编队精准锁定目标，成功实施模拟打击。训练结束，参训官兵来不及休整，立即展开联合复盘。围绕协同流程衔接、通信链路保障、应急特情处置等关键环节，他们逐项梳理训练数据、逐帧分析视频画面，深入查找训练中存在的短板弱项，共同研究制订针对性补强措施，为后续训练明确方向。