The PLA Daily reported (April 1) that the PLAAF had conducted a 36-hour long-endurance early warning exercise simulating countering enemy planes during wartime and placing increasing emphasis on airborne early-warning and control aircraft. It said a warplane, captained by Liu Yin, conducted tactical acrobatics, reconnaissance, early-warning and surveillance work, tested airborne strikes and other tasks which were not specified, immediately after taking off. The move had not been common during previous drills and was intended to simulate quickly countering enemy planes during wartime. Later an unspecified number of fighter jets in two groups staged a confrontation in a combat scenario. Zi Kun, an officer from the division’s training unit, said the drill was a test for both pilots and equipment because it involved planning and coordination to meet actual combat requirement.
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