China's homegrown J-15 carrier-borne fighter jets, also know as Flying Sharks, made their debut flights over the South China Sea on Monday. (Photo: China News Service/Mo Xiaoliang)
A naval formation consisting of aircraft carrier Liaoning has conducted take-off and landing drills in the South China Sea on Monday, a military source said on Tuesday.
The formation, which is on a "cross-sea area" training exercise, involved J-15 fighter jets, as well as several ship-borne helicopters, the source said without giving specific numbers.
Complex hydrological and meteorological conditions in the South China Sea as well as a cold front in area have posed some challenges, but the source said the drill provided important experience in the build-up of combat capability of the aircraft carrier formation.
