China adds aerial refuelling to pilot training in move to boost combat readiness
China's air force has introduced aerial refuelling to its pilot training programme as the
People's Liberation Army tries to step up combat readiness and long-range capabilities.
Advertisement
The move was highlighted in a report by state broadcaster CCTV on Friday that included footage from a PLA training video. It showed instructors from the PLA Air Force's Shijiazhuang Flight Academy piloting two J-10 fighter jets in a refuelling drill, supported by a YU-20 tanker.
The J-10 – seen as China's answer to the American F-16 – has a two-seat variant for advanced fighter and strike training. Another variant, the J-10CE, was used by Pakistan to down French-made Rafale jets in combat with India's military near the disputed Kashmir region last month.
The YU-20 tanker can offload up to 100 tonnes of fuel in a single sortie. Photo: Xinhua
According to the CCTV report, the academy plans to expand the refuelling training in phases. It said the goal was to round out combat readiness training and better prepare pilots for operational requirements and the demands of the battlefield.
Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said it was a significant step for the air force as it tried to cultivate real-combat capabilities from the earliest stage in a pilot's training.
'Previously, such training was limited to experienced operational units,' Song said. 'Now it's moving upstream into pilot education. That opens a new path for building a strategic air force with global reach.'
Advertisement
He said the programme would help pilots to develop 'a long-range operational mindset early in their careers'.
'It will reduce the interval between graduation and combat readiness, significantly boosting the military's ability to rapidly produce a battle-ready talent pool.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
SCMP Best Bets: Say Bienvenue to another Happy Valley win
Sam Agars COLOURFUL KING - R9 (11) Has been going beautifully and should relish the step up in trip Jay Rooney SKY TRUST - R8 (2) Big run last start and has drawn to get a much better run here Trackwork Spy BIENVENUE - R5 (2) Impressive last-start winner looks well placed to strike again Phillip Woo LEAN HERO - R2 (1) Has a solid record at this level and looks primed to strike from gate one Shannon (Vincent Wong) SUPER HONG KONG - R1 (6) Is back to his favourite trip and looks a big chance tonight Racing Post Online STORM RIDER - R6 (5) Ran a nice second to Crimson Flash last start and looks hard to beat Tom Wood CASA ROCHESTER - R7 (7) Found trouble in the straight last start and looks like he can go close here
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Will a calmer approach to US-China relations work out for Beijing?
Advertisement Beyond this brief moment in the spotlight, however, Xie has kept a lower profile during Trump's second term, in stark contrast to his predecessors Cui Tiankai and Qin Gang, who actively engaged American audiences to counter negative perceptions of China. At events such as the 2024 Harvard Kennedy School China Conference, despite facing pro-Tibetan protests, he maintained a composed demeanour, emphasising modernisation and cooperation rather than confronting his critics directly, a sharp contrast to Qin's more combative approach. Xie's style aligns more closely with Cui, China's longest-serving ambassador to the US, who was known for his measured, professional approach. Cui, who served as ambassador between 2013 and 2021, adeptly navigated turbulence during the Barack Obama era and Trump's first term, actively engaging US officials and lawmakers, media and think tanks, while forging personal ties with the Trump family. Advertisement Highly regarded in both Beijing and Washington, Cui was viewed as a skilled communicator and an interlocutor who understood American politics.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
80% of Hong Kong's disadvantaged children suffer nutritional imbalance: survey
Eight in 10 children from low-income families in Hong Kong suffer from serious nutritional imbalance, with less than 14 per cent getting enough dairy, a survey has found. Advertisement The People Service Centre on Tuesday released the findings of a four-year study that monitored 426 children, aged three to 11, from underprivileged households, including those living in public housing and substandard accommodation such as subdivided flats and cubicle rooms. The study, conducted by the poverty-focused NGO in collaboration with the Hong Kong Community Dietitian Association and Emeritus Professor in Public Health and Primary Care Albert Lee at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, showed that 80 per cent of the children had a serious nutritional imbalance, with only 13.6 per cent meeting the dairy intake target set by the Department of Health. About 60 per cent of the children had insufficient intake of both fruits and vegetables. Nearly half failed to meet the recommended grain intake, while close to 40 per cent did not consume enough meat. 'There were at least 40 per cent of children who did not meet the standards in each of the five major food categories,' Gloria Yeung Tan-ping, a project officer at the centre, said. 'The figures reflected the serious nutritional imbalance in children, and the intake level will affect their growth.' Advertisement The department recommends a daily balanced diet for children aged two to five that includes 1.5 to three bowls of grains, at least 1.5 servings of vegetables, at least one serving of fruit, up to 111 grams of meat, fish, egg and alternatives, and two servings of milk or alternatives.
