Country Is Working To Establish Its First Carrier Wing

Two Chinese test pilots have reportedly been fatally injured while conducting flights aboard the country's only aircraft carrier.

The Associated Press reports that the Chinese Government mentioned the accidents in a report from the state-run Xinhua News Agency. President Xi Jinping had issued honorary titles to all of the pilots in that squadron conducting takeoff and landing exercises on board the aircraft carrier Liaoning. The report said "two test pilots of the squadron sacrificed their lives during the tests." No further details were given.

The carrier is an older Soviet-era ship that had been purchased by China and refurbished over the past decade. The ship, which is smaller and slower that U.S. carriers, is undergoing sea trials. The Chinese military has not said when, or even if, it will have a full compliment of aircraft aboard.

The flight tests began in 2012, according to the AP. The aircraft that are operating from the carrier are reportedly Chinese J-15 fighter-bombers, a version of the Sukhoi SU-33.

(Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense)

FMI: www.defense.gov