Navy's carrier battle group back after drill
Liaoning and its escort vessels complete over-40-day, long-range deployment in South China Sea and western Pacific Ocean
The PLA Navy said that since departure, the Liaoning and its escort vessels had conducted continuous training throughout the voyage, sailing across multiple sea areas.
During the deployment, the group created realistic training scenarios, built a robust early-warning and detection system, simulated complex battlefield environments, and followed practical exercise plans.
Sailors and pilots participated in a series of drills covering air combat and air defense, anti-ship strikes, battlefield support, joint search and rescue, and live-fire exercises.
The group also carried out multiple rounds of day-and-night carrier-air wing and ship-aircraft integrated exercises to verify its strike and defense capabilities, and conducted targeted training for core combat elements, the PLA Navy said, noting that these activities effectively tested the battle group's joint operational capability in long-range deployments.
In a designated area in the western Pacific, the Liaoning carrier battle group held joint exercises with an amphibious assault group led by CNS Anhui, a Type 075 amphibious assault ship. According to the PLA Navy, both formations conducted integrated training to enhance coordinated far-sea combat operations.
