Chinese state media unveils ‘deluxe’ Liaoning carrier strike group; analysts point to major shift in blue-water strike capabilities

The Chinese navy sent the Liaoning aircraft carrier group to the Western Pacific for training in the middle of this month, escorted by two Type 055 10,000-tonne-class destroyers, the Anshan and Wuxi, and a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, the Huainan.

CCTV’s Military Time disclosed the deployment on Saturday (24 October), quoting military commentator Du Wenlong as saying that this “deluxe” configuration signalled major changes in China’s ability to maintain a presence, conduct strikes and exercise overall control in distant waters.

Besides the surface fleet, two layers of aerial support were deployed during the training: WZ-7 drones conducted prolonged high-altitude patrols, while Y-9 aircraft carried out electronic reconnaissance.

Du said an analysis of the two aircraft types’ basic tactical and technical specifications showed that they were clearly serving as airborne early-warning aircraft operating outside the carrier group. Joint training involving different military services and aircraft types in distant waters could therefore deliver strong combined combat capabilities.

He noted that both aircraft types had strong electronic and optical reconnaissance capabilities, as well as situational awareness. If they could operate in coordination with the Liaoning carrier group, particularly its carrier-based fighter jets, the resulting formation would achieve new levels of offensive and defensive capability in distant waters.

This is the second time this year that the group led by the Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, has conducted combat-oriented training in distant waters. The first deployment took place from May to June. Its latest return to the Western Pacific for training under its annual plan comes less than four months after it last returned to port.

The CCTV report also disclosed for the first time that J-15 fighter jets had intercepted and driven away a Japanese P-3C anti-submarine aircraft during the Liaoning carrier group’s first distant-water training deployment this year.

The group also conducted training with an amphibious assault ship to integrate their combat systems. The Global Times subsequently quoted experts as saying that official footage of the exercises confirmed that the ship taking part was the Anhui.

The Anhui is the People’s Liberation Army’s third Type 075 amphibious assault ship. With a displacement of about 40,000 tonnes, it has a full-length flight deck and a well deck, and can carry helicopters, air-cushioned landing craft, amphibious combat vehicles and other equipment for amphibious operations. Capable of conducting landings by air and sea, it was formally commissioned in November 2022.

Du said aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships were both combat vessels with large flight decks. Their missions in distant waters were relatively complex and could be closely linked to island-seizure and landing operations.

He stressed that amphibious landings were the most complex combat operations in the history of warfare, requiring coordination among surface, underwater, air and ground forces in joint operations. Grouping an aircraft carrier with an amphibious assault ship would place greater demands on integrated combat operations than other forms of warfare.