CMSI China Maritime Reports

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Description

Main Findings

  • PLA Naval Aviation has undergone substantial institutional transformation over the past two decades. This transformation is driven by the goal of becoming a carrier-based force capable of effective joint operations in the maritime domain.
  • This transformation has been accompanied by reforms to pilot education, training, and career management systems, aimed at producing a qualified force capable of conducting long-range maritime operations.
  • Despite significant progress, there are still areas that require improvements, particularly the Naval Aviation University.
  • The PLAN likely aims to further professionalize pilot education and shorten the carrier pilot training pipeline by equipping Naval Aviation University training units with carrier-capable training aircraft to reduce reliance on operational units.
  • PLAN authors have praised the U.S. Navy’s tactical training, suggesting the PLAN may seek to incorporate more combat-realistic training content.
  • It is likely that the PLA Naval Aviation’s transition training phase will continue to improve, building on the initial progress in adoption of complex force-on-force training scenarios.
  • Understanding the career progression of officers in this community adds context to the desirability of this career field.
  • Close attention to how PLA Naval Aviation grows and changes with the adoption of carrier-based KJ-600s and future land-based systems will be important to understanding how the PLAN will fight.
  • Overall, improvements to Naval Aviation pilot training and joint training by the operational force clearly suggest that the PLAN is increasingly providing its aviation branch with the opportunities to develop technical acumen and tactical competencies required to conduct the missions the PLAN has been tasked with.

Publisher

China Maritime Studies Institute, U.S Naval War College

City

Newport, Rhode Island

Keywords

China Maritime Studies Institute, CMSI, PLAN, People's Liberation Army Navy, Naval Aviation, Aviation, Training, Career, Naval Aviation University

China Maritime Report #60: PLA Naval Aviation Personnel: Training and Career Paths for a Modern Force

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