Liaoning Carrier Group Completes Far-Sea Combat Training

The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and its accompanying strike group have successfully completed an extensive far-sea combat training mission, returning to their home port in Qingdao on June 22 after more than 40 days at sea. The deployment, which took the carrier group through the South China Sea and Western Pacific, marks one of the longest sustained operational deployments for the vessel and demonstrates the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s growing blue-water capabilities, according to PLA Daily.

Background: China’s Expanding Naval Reach

The Liaoning — China’s first aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2012 — has progressively transitioned from a training and experimental platform to an increasingly operational asset. The vessel, originally purchased as an incomplete hull from Ukraine, uses a ski-jump takeoff system (STOBAR) and primarily operates the J-15 “Flying Shark” fighter. Based at Qingdao Naval Base in Shandong Province, the Liaoning has become a centerpiece of China’s naval modernization, which has shifted the PLA Navy from a coastal defense force toward a blue-water navy capable of power projection.

China currently operates two ski-jump configured carriers — Liaoning and Shandong — while a third, the catapult-equipped Fujian, is undergoing sea trials. The Liaoning’s latest deployment reflects the accelerating pace and ambition of these modernization efforts.

Key Developments: 40 Days of Combat Training

According to reports from People’s Daily, sourced from the PLA Daily, the carrier group conducted a comprehensive range of exercises during its deployment. These included air defense suppression, anti-ship strikes, support and cover operations, far-sea comprehensive rescue, live-weapon firing, and cross-day/night multi-batch ship-air offensive and defensive confrontations.

In a significant milestone, the Liaoning group conducted joint exercises in the Western Pacific with an amphibious assault ship group — likely a Type 075 LHD — marking the first time such a coordinated operation has been publicly acknowledged. This “mixed task force” capability represents a new level of interoperability between China’s surface combatants.

“During training, the formation adhered to real-combat training, based on far-sea combat requirements, setting real scenarios and real plans,” said PLA Navy Officer Zhang Xu aboard the Liaoning, as quoted by CCTV News. “We organized exercises in air defense suppression, anti-ship strikes, support and cover, far-sea comprehensive rescue, and live-weapon firing.”

Japanese Monitoring and Maritime Tensions

A notable element of the deployment was the interaction between the Liaoning group and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) assets. According to the PLA Daily report, Japanese vessels and aircraft conducted multiple close-range tracking, surveillance, and provocative actions during the training period. The Liaoning group maintained a high state of alert throughout, continuously organizing combat takeoffs of carrier-based aircraft, flexibly changing combat formations, and professionally handling Japan’s actions.

The public acknowledgment of Japanese “provocations” in Chinese state media is relatively rare and highlights the tense maritime environment in the Western Pacific, where China’s expanding naval activities have drawn increasing scrutiny from Japan and its allies.

Analysis: Stealth Fighter Speculation and Strategic Implications

While not officially confirmed, multiple Chinese media outlets and analysts have speculated that the new J-35 stealth fighter may have conducted ski-jump takeoff and landing tests aboard the Liaoning during this deployment. The J-35, China’s second-generation carrier-based stealth fighter, features advanced avionics and is designed for both catapult and ski-jump takeoff modes. Military experts, including Fu Qianshao, have stated that the J-35 can operate from ski-jump carriers like the Liaoning and Shandong.

If confirmed, J-35 deployment on the Liaoning would mark a significant leap in the carrier’s combat capability, introducing stealth air power to China’s existing carrier fleet. Some analysts note that Japanese surveillance reportedly lost track of the Liaoning group around May 29, which could suggest operations beyond monitoring range or stealth aircraft activity.

The 40-plus-day duration of this deployment — among the longest for the Liaoning — demonstrates improved sustainment and logistics capabilities. The explicit mention of live-weapon firing, cross-day/night operations, and multi-batch confrontations indicates a high level of realism in training scenarios.

What’s Next

The successful completion of this mission positions the Liaoning for continued operational deployments as China’s carrier program advances. With the Fujian expected to enter service in the coming years, the PLA Navy is building toward a multi-carrier force capable of sustained operations across the Indo-Pacific region. The question of whether the J-35 has indeed begun operating from ski-jump carriers will likely be a key point of interest for defense analysts monitoring China’s next deployment.

As China’s naval capabilities continue to mature, the balance of maritime power in the Western Pacific — long dominated by the United States Navy — is undergoing a fundamental shift, with implications for regional security dynamics from the South China Sea to the Taiwan Strait.