Chinese air force sets up 'adversary' brigade

The Chinese air force has established an "adversary" brigade that simulates a wide range of threats that the country could face.

China Daily reported that the adversary brigade was recently established by the People's Liberation Army Air Force. The brigade took on the PLA ground force's air defense units during a two-week anti-aircraft drill that concluded on Tuesday.

The brigade has fighter jets, helicopters, electronic warfare aircraft and drones, and all of its aircraft are made in China, PLA Daily reported.

The media report said that in an air defence scenario, the brigade sent helicopters to entice the 'enemy' to activate their fire-control radars of the anti-aircraft missiles and later used drones to jam the radars.

As the 'enemy' were busy detecting drones, their missiles' locations were exposed to the brigade. It then mobilized fighter jets and electronic warfare planes to strike their rivals' commanding facility and missiles, the report said.

Gao Zhuo, a military observer in Shanghai, told China Daily: "The PLA is paying more and more attention to its adversary units. Considering that the military continues to condense the number and scale of its units, the fact that it established a new brigade specifically for adversary simulations shows the significance the air force attaches to the brigade."

"Based on the pictures I've seen about the brigade, it has Sukhoi Su-30MKKs, J-10As and J-11Bs. All are the most powerful aircraft the PLA air force owns."