Two J-11B fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the South China Sea Fleet under the PLA Navy taxi on the runway before takeoff for a live-fire flight training exercise at a shooting range near the South China Sea on September 19, 2018. (Photos: eng.chinamil.com.cn)

A pilot assigned to an aviation brigade of the South China Sea Fleet under the PLA Navy climbs into the cockpit of his fighter jet prior to a live-fire flight training exercise at a shooting range near the South China Sea on September 19, 2018.

A J-11B fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the South China Sea Fleet under the PLA Navy takes off for a sortie during a live-fire flight training exercise near the South China Sea on September 19, 2018.

Two J-11B fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the South China Sea Fleet under the PLA Navy take off for a sortie during a live-fire flight training exercise near the South China Sea on September 19, 2018.

A commander assigned to an aviation brigade of the South China Sea Fleet under the PLA Navy gives orders using the High Frequency Global Communication System radio during a live-fire flight training exercise near the South China Sea on September 19, 2018.