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China’s military
ChinaMilitary

China’s Shandong aircraft carrier sets new sortie benchmark in military exercises

  • Aircraft perform more than 600 take-offs and landings during manoeuvres in April, Japanese forces say
  • Increase in jet and helicopter activity part of bigger, multi-service drills, analyst says

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A J-15 Chinese fighter jet takes off from the Shandong aircraft carrier during exercises around Taiwan on April 9. Photo: Xinhua
Jack Lau
Chinese warplanes made a record number of sorties off its latest combat-ready aircraft carrier during a military exercise in the western Pacific Ocean, nearly doubling the previous benchmark.
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Japan’s Joint Staff Office said on Tuesday that navy fighter jets and helicopters made around 620 take-offs and landings from the Shandong carrier in the 18 days from April 7, up from 320 from the Liaoning in the 15 days of an exercise in December.

A higher sortie rate can potentially increase the combat power and flexibility of an aircraft carrier group.

The Joint Staff Office said that from April 7 the carrier group started training with J-15 carrier-based fighter jets and Z-18J helicopters on the flight deck in the Philippine Sea, east of Taiwan and south of Japan’s Yaeyama and Miyako islands in the Ryukyu chain.

From April 8 to 10, the Shandong – the country’s second combat-ready carrier – and its escorts, including advanced Type 055 and Type 052D destroyers, took part in the “Joint Sword” exercises around Taiwan, the first time an aircraft carrier has been involved in a drill targeting the self-ruled island.
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During the Joint Sword drill, Taiwan’s defence ministry said it detected J-15 fighters entering its self-declared air defence identification zone for the first time.

The Shandong carrier group remained in the region after the drill ended, staying in the area at least until Monday, according to the Joint Staff Office.

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