PLA Air Force Aviation Unit Conducts Day-and-Night Aerial Refueling Drills

A Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force aviation unit recently conducted round-the-clock, day-and-night aerial refueling exercises, according to official military reporting. Multiple fighter aircraft executed probe-and-drogue refueling under challenging aerodynamic conditions before immediately transitioning into opposing air combat and tactical maneuvers. Unit leadership emphasized that aerial refueling is being embedded as a regular component of complex training to support extended-range offensive and defensive operations.

As the PLA Air Force seeks to extend its operational reach and loiter time, mastering nighttime and adverse-weather aerial refueling directly underpins its capacity to sustain high-tempo combat missions beyond near-shore perimeters.

A People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aviation unit conducted a series of day-and-night aerial refueling drills aimed at bolstering pilot proficiency under challenging atmospheric conditions, according to a report published by the PLA Daily. The exercise commenced in the late summer twilight as multiple fighter jets took off in echelons following commands from the control tower. Flying in formation, the aircraft navigated toward designated refueling airspace while pilots continually adjusted flight attitudes and headings based on cockpit instrumentation. Upon entering the target zone, turbulent airflow caused the tanker aircraft's drogue basket to sway, complicating the alignment process. Guided by ground command elements and cockpit flight parameters, the receiving pilots maintained strict altitude, speed differentials, and approach angles to maneuver into the refueling position. The aircraft successfully established contact using probe-and-drogue equipment, completing the fuel transfer amid aerodynamic instability. Immediately after disconnecting from the tanker, the fighter pilots disengaged and flew directly into a secondary airspace to initiate opposing force air-combat exercises. According to a unit leader, modern aerial warfare demands rapid operational tempo, making mid-air refueling an indispensable capability for extending mission duration and sustaining distant offensive and defensive actions. The unit has progressively embedded aerial refueling into higher-order tactical training modules, including grouped air combat and low-altitude penetration, to build pilot endurance and operational capability across extended day-to-night training cycles.