Air force uses supersonic fighters to train pilots

China-made supersonic fighters are being used for the first time at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's flight academy in an effort to reform pilot training, the PLA Daily reported on Tuesday.

The fighter is "low lost, highly efficient, safe and simple to use and maintain," the newspaper said.

Currently, flight instructors are the only ones capable of piloting the craft. After training more instructors, the supersonic fighters will become a new training model at the flight academy.

Previously, cadets spent one or two years in the air force before receiving supersonic fighter training after graduation. Following the reform, the air force's pressure to train supersonic pilots will be somewhat alleviated and the limited training resources will be focused on real combat drills.

An Air Force officer said the introduction of supersonic fighters can shorten the training span between academies and the military, further elevate training instructors' tactics level, "greatly shorten pilots' training cycle" and give full play to the capacity of current armaments.