In the South China Sea, a Chinese aircraft carrier conducted combat drills with its entire battle group, which consists of a flotilla of naval ships, including a nuclear submarine, as Beijing ratcheted up tensions over Taiwan. The aircraft carrier raised eyebrows by undergoing overhaul and upgrades less than two years after its launch. According to Global Times, the aircraft carrier Shandong engaged in realistic combat training at a secret location. The Shandong hosted J-15 carrier-based fighter jet takeoff and landing operations during the drills, as well as replenishment-at-sea operations. See this video for further details.
The Shandong, the second and first domestically built aircraft carrier of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, recently conducted extensive manoeuvres in the South China Sea with a force that included all combat elements, according to analysts, as reported by the state-run Global Times on Friday.
Early in the fall, Shandong conducted realistic combat training operations in the South China Sea to thoroughly evaluate the force’s fighting capabilities.
Defense experts claim that although China is constructing aircraft carriers more quickly, the J-15 carrier-based fighter jets, which were deemed to be too heavy for deployment on aircraft carriers, are still a work in progress. Nearly every month or two, China launches a new battleship as part of its accelerated naval modernization.
According to the news release, the Shandong hosted J-15 carrier-based fighter jet takeoff and landing operations during the drills and practised replenishment at sea operations. The aircraft carrier was seen manoeuvring in a battle group with a Type 055 big destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, a Type 054A frigate, and a Type 901 comprehensive supply ship, according to a video that was included with the news release.
The story quoted a defence expert as adding that generally speaking, a nuclear-powered assault submarine would also be a part of an aircraft carrier group. Following the recent visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-level visit ever, China has increased its military training near Taiwan at the same time that Shandong is conducting drills in the South China Sea with its whole battle group.
