In recent hours, it has been reported that the Liaoning aircraft carrier (CV-16) of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) was observed in the Western Pacific, northeast of Taiwan and southwest of Yonaguni Island, Japan. This sighting is notable not only for being the first of 2024 but also for what has circulated as evidence of takeoff and landing trials for its Embarked Air Wing.
Both the defense ministries of Japan and Taiwan have revealed that the Liaoning, along with its accompanying naval group, was detected near both islands.
It is important to note that this navigation in open waters comes after the Liaoning completed maintenance and upgrades earlier this year. In March, the Chinese aircraft carrier resumed operations, conducting sea trials. During these trials, simulated models of the J-15 and J-35 fighter jets were observed on its flight deck, generating interest among analysts. While the J-15 is the Liaoning’s main carrier-based fighter, the J-35 is being developed for the new Fujian aircraft carrier (CV-18).
A month later, the Liaoning was sighted sailing in the Bohai Sea alongside another unidentified vessel. This deployment showed no issues related to the upgrades made to the aircraft carrier, and no results of the assessments conducted were revealed.
However, this new navigation has brought relevant news. According to local media and the state-run CCTV, China tested a new type of fighter aboard the aircraft carrier, which conducted takeoff trials. This reinforces what was observed months ago with the simulated models of the J-35, which has been presented as China’s equivalent to the U.S. fifth-generation F-35 fighter.
Finally, the vessels accompanying the aircraft carrier have been identified by observers as the Type 052D Chengdu guided-missile destroyer and the Type 052DL Huainan.
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