Various fighters take part in ‘Joint Exercise 2013'

KHORCHIN GRASSLAND, October 23 -- An actual-troop test-oriented exercise codenamed “Joint Exercise 2013” of the Shenyang Military Area Command (MAC) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was unveiled on the morning of October 20, 2013 in the depth of the Khorchin Grassland in northeast China.

It is learnt that the aircraft and personnel of the Air Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAAF) participating in the exercise come from the air force under the Shenyang MAC.

During the exercise, they will cooperate closely with the ground forces to carry out such missions as aerial reconnaissance, seizure of air control, interference and suppression and air strike.

“Compared with previous exercises, more types of aircraft are dispatched to transmit intelligence and information through many aerial reconnaissance means, providing an accurate basis for command organs to size up the enemy’s situation. In addition, air-to-air confrontation between the third-generation aircraft is added to the exercise,” said Ding Laihang, commander of the air force under the Shenyang MAC.

Besides, it is learnt that thick haze has recently made the weather conditions in northeast China rather complex, which is a good test for the comprehensive support capability of the air force under the Shenyang MAC.