(REUTERS) – China’s aircraft carrier “Liaoning” and its formation have been conducting trans-regional training since it set out from east China’s Qingdao on June 25.
The formation is made up of the aircraft carrier and destroyers Jinan and Yinchuan, frigate Yantai, and a squadron of J-15 fighter jets and helicopters.
The training mission aims at strengthening coordination among the vessels and improving the skills of the crew and pilots in different marine environments.
Xu Ying, a command pilot of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), said it is the first trans-regional training for most participating pilots.
“The training will try to achieve following objectives: first, improve the skills and tactics of pilots; second, temper the mental qualities and fighting spirit; third, improve and upgrade the organizing, commanding and logistic support processes to lay a solid foundation for more complicated missions,” said Xu Ying, a command pilot of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Training in logistic support is a key in this training mission, which can help improve their coordination with other departments.
“The supporting crew mainly take up such training subjects as aircraft preparations, guiding and transit, checking and releasing aircraft, aircraft fastening, filling aircraft with gas and oxygen and maintenance support, in a bid to improve overall capabilities in aircraft operations,” said Xu Yinghong, an officer of the supporting detachment.
“The trans-regional training aims at making up for the shortcomings, meeting the real battle requirements, deepening the integration of tactics and improving training efficiency,” said Gao.
The formation will visit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in early July as part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) being stationed in HKSAR, said Liang Yang, a spokesman of the PLA Navy on Sunday.
Officers and soldiers will attend various exchanges and activities with Hong Kong residents and the PLA Garrison in the HKSAR, and the warships will be open for the public to visit, Liang said.