PLA developing naval wing to operate from aircraft carriers

China, which is developing two more aircraft carriers, is building up a naval-aviation division to safeguard the countrys maritime interests amid escalating tensions over the disputed South China Sea.

 

Although its only about three years since the unit came into being, the carrier-borne force has already trained several groups of J-15 pilots, Senior Captain Dai Mingmeng, commander of the 2.3-million strong Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navys carrier-based aviation force was quoted as saying by state-run China Daily.

 

"It will not take long for us to attain full operational capability on the aircraft carrier," he said.

 

China is developing two more aircraft carriers.

 

Chinese media reported for the first time the crash of one of J-15 jets during the landing exercises on the ground in April this year in which its pilot was killed.

 

One of the J-15s crashed after its computers reported a malfunction in the flight-control system.

 

An investigation concluded that the pilot had tried unsuccessfully to save the plane and he had no option but to eject from the cockpit before the fighter aircraft crashed, the report said.

 

Because the plane was at a relatively low altitude, there wasnt time for the pilots parachute to be fully deployed before Zhang hit the ground. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but died as a result of serious internal injuries, it said.

 

The development of navys aviation division came as Beijing strongly defended its claims over the disputed South China Sea (SCS) in the aftermath of international tribunals verdict striking down Chinas claims over the area.

 

Last month, a UN-backed international tribunal struck down Chinas claims over the South China Sea, saying Beijing has no "historic rights" in the disputed area.

 

The tribunal struck a blow to Chinas claims over almost all of the SCS, saying that Beijings much touted nine-dash line had no legal basis.

 

China has rejected as "null and void" the verdict and said it "neither accepts nor recognises" the ruling of the tribunal.

 

China claims sovereignty over almost all of SCS based on historic rights, including reefs and rocks in the sea as well as hundreds of miles from Chinese shores.