Chinese navy holds first dual aircraft carrier drills in South China Sea

State television report shows Liaoning and Shandong sailing side by side in exercises aimed at improving ‘systematic combat capability’

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The Shandong and Liaoning sail side by side during the exercises in the South China Sea. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:00pm, 31 Oct 2024

The Chinese navy’s two active aircraft carriers – the Liaoning and the Shandong – have completed their first dual carrier exercises in the South China Sea, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday.

The report did not give details of the drills, but it included footage showing multiple J-15 fighter jets taking off from the Liaoning, with at least a dozen of the warplanes taking part in live combat drills.

The two aircraft carriers were also shown sailing side by side.

The defence ministry said the drills included “real combat scenario training”. Photo: Xinhua

Military commentator and former PLA instructor Song Zhongping said the dual carrier formation offered a significant “force multiplier effect”.

He said the strength of aircraft carriers was mainly to do with the number of aircraft, adding that the combined air power and strike force of the Liaoning and Shandong exceeded that of some small or medium militaries.

Song noted that the two carrier groups also had different early warning systems and supporting destroyers and frigates that gave them different air defence, anti-submarine and anti-ship capabilities.

“It’s not merely a case of one plus one is greater than two; it’s far greater than that,” Song said, adding that the two aircraft carriers would be more effective by operating together.

The CCTV report said the Liaoning group had been operating in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea before returning to its home port of Qingdao on China’s east coast.