A KJ-500 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command takes off for a combat sortie during the flight training exercise in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains in early September, 2018. (Photos: Xi Bobo and Ma Peng/ eng.chinamil.com.cn)

Maintenance men assigned to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command go through pre-flight procedures on a J-11 fighter jet prior to the flight training exercise in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains in early September, 2018.

Maintenance men assigned to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command go through pre-flight procedures on a J-11 fighter jet prior to the flight training exercise in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains in early September, 2018.

Weapons load crew airmen assigned to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command transfer missiles of J-11 fighter jets prior to the flight training exercise in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains in early September, 2018.

A pilot assigned to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command pilots his J-11 fighter jet to conduct fire strike during the flight training exercise in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains in early September, 2018.

A J-11 fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command deploys its drogue parachute to slow itself after landing at a military airfield during the flight training exercise in the hinterland of the Kunlun Mountains in early September, 2018.