Decoding of Chinese Air Force exercises over the Taiwan Strait

The Chinese Air Force last month demonstrated the faculties of a key tactic for a war across the strait of Taiwan.

An H-6K off Taiwan in 2016.

On March 26, 20 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAAF) fighters departed from mainland China and approached Taiwan on two axes.

While most of Taiwan’s defense exploration aircraft were in the southwestern part of the island, four H-6K cruise missile bombers and one Y-8 support aircraft continued to fly towards Southeast through the Ba Si Strait separating Taiwan from the Philippines and then turns north, to an area in Taiwan’s eastern international airspace.

In other words, PLAAF bombers have surrounded Taiwan – a move that flyers Global Times China’s considered capable of deciding during wartime. “From that position, the PLA could not only attack military facilities on the eastern side of the island, but block the island completely.”

But it is far from concluded that the PLAAF can easily do this in combat. First, enemies – Taiwanese and American forces with missile batteries, air defense fighters and missile warships – must be taken into account.

Second, it is not clear whether PLAAF crews possess the skills and support necessary to reliably and safely fly thousands of kilometers across the vast Pacific Ocean.

Land combat was difficult. Air combat on the ocean is even more difficult. On the water, navigation, communication, and coordination – not to mention effective combat with an experienced, high-tech enemy – have been a big deal.

“Although the PLAAF is increasing the number of flights at sea, they acknowledge the challenges associated with training to fly in the far seas,” authors Kenneth Allen and Cristina Garafola wrote in a survey. newly funded by the US Air Force in terms of the history and organization of the Chinese Air Force.

Allen and Garafola cited a 2017 interview. Chinese pilots from the PLAAF’s Southern Command have discussed some of the issues their air force is trying to solve to improve their capabilities. combat ability in “far sea”.

Communication stories at the top of the list. “Due to limited communication measures during long-distance training, comprehensive support measures – including regular radars, command and air communications aircraft, naval ships and satellites communication – needs to be better integrated, ”writes Allen and Garafola.

They continued, “Compared to flying on land, training at sea is more likely to deviate from the designed flight path.” High-difficulty subjects related to offshore training pose new challenges to the technical and tactical abilities of many pilots. These subjects include attacking sea targets, aerial combat against different types of aircraft on land and water, aerial refueling and combat with enemy navies.

In particular, on physical challenges, flight times longer than four hours often lead to pilot fatigue.

Weather conditions during marine training are unpredictable – and gathering weather related data remains a challenge.

Long-distance search and rescue operations remain a challenging task for the PLAAF due to limited search and rescue equipment, low night vision and complex weather conditions. trash.

Long-distance flight training continues to challenge PLAAF’s maintenance assistance capabilities. Many incidents related to maritime cannot just take the option on land but apply it.

The PLAAF knows that they have water problems. “The high seas drills will become part of regular training,” said Dinh Lai Hang, a PLAAF lieutenant general, in 2017.

The PLAAF is “gradually expanding its long-distance training operations. Weapons, equipment, communications systems, supplies and aviation search and rescue skills have to keep up with mission requirements, ”added General Dinh.

The fact that the Chinese air force safely conducted sky missions near Taiwan in March could be a hint that its sea flight training efforts are beginning to succeed.

Of course, performing long-range, above-water missions in peacetime was one thing. Performing that task while someone is shooting at you is completely different.