On February 1, dozens of flight backbones, commanders and technical experts of an aviation division of the air force of the Chengdu Military Area Command gathered together to discuss specially how to innovate air battle tactics this year and make arrangements accordingly. In the military training grade assessment examination held at the end of last year, this division scored excellent results through application of its innovated air battle tactics.

　　This division has allowed its flight personnel to participate in the whole process of air battle tactical innovations, from tackling of hard-nut problems and flight test verifications to confrontational test exercise with actual troops, through which the flight personnel's capability of winning battles has been boosted. In the meantime, the flight personnel have also deepened their understanding of tactical theories as well as technical performance of the weaponry and equipment.

　　In recent years, this division has exploited to the full the opportunities of implementing various important missions to carry out confrontational assessment exercises involving hundreds of sorties, which has enabled its flight personnel to master technical performance of on-board weaponry and equipment and sharpen their tactical awareness. In July last year, this division went to the sand desert in northwest China to participate in the combined tactical exercises, in which its flight personnel used their newly invented air tactics in a flexible way and all the missiles they fired hit the targets in the live-firing exercises.

　　By Zhu Qianli and Lu Feng

　　(Feb 6, PLA Daily)