Meet the men who give nation's aircraft carriers a cutting edge

Strength to strength

Senior Captain Ma Chao, who oversees all air operations support sections on the Shandong, said the number of jet flights his men supported in 2024 was more than those of several previous years combined.

"That means a great deal of pressure and challenges. Rather than just completing our assigned tasks, we have managed to substantially shorten the time used to launch each J-15 jet, and have successfully saved a lot of time and money that would be needed in the past to repair or replace equipment," he said, attributing these accomplishments to his team's diligence and research work.

Chief Petty Officer Liu Ming, head of optical landing guidance, said that the training and drills of all of the launch and recovery support personnel have paid off.

"There are so many times that as the siren wailed, we immediately responded and rushed toward our posts.

"Within a matter of minutes we had launched several J-15s to engage with incoming hostile aircraft. You will be able to prevent a war if your adversaries know that you can defeat them," he stated.

Zhou's son is also strong-willed about his career choice.

"He applied for the PLA Naval University of Engineering last year and was admitted to the communication technology major. He will become a navy man like me," the officer said, noting that he now has support from his own father.

"I am proud to have been part of our nation's carrier force from its birth. It has grown up like a child does; entering the world and growing day by day — from short to tall, from weak to strong," he said.