“Unidentified submarine detected!” In a certain area of the South China Sea during the summer, waves surged and frothed as a joint night-and-day combat training exercise organized by a unit of naval aviation forces and a submarine unit was underway.

Upon receiving the order, the department’s anti-submarine patrol aircraft took off and ascended into the air. It reached the designated mission area, where the aircraft’s mission compartment quickly completed system calibration and began scanning the target sea area. Suddenly, the radar picked up a faint signal. After comprehensive analysis, the tactical commander decisively issued the order to deploy acoustic sonar buoys.

Above the ocean, several sonar buoys were deployed one by one from the underbelly of the fighter aircraft, gradually falling into the sea, forming a “shark-hunting net” in the process. “The buoy array has been established!” the sonar operator reported first. Based on the location of the sonar buoys, the tactical commander ordered adjustments to the direction and course of the aircraft to ensure stable reception of sonar signals.

As night fell, the sea surface was pitch-black. The anti-submarine patrol aircraft acted like “hunters” in the darkness, detecting any unusual sound waves beneath the surface. Suddenly, the sonar signals became intermittent.

It turned out that the “enemy” submarine, sensing danger, employed interference tactics and conducted tactical maneuvers, continuously changing direction and speed by taking advantage of the complex underwater terrain, in an attempt to evade pursuit. “Deploy sonar buoys and enhance surveillance; continue the search!” As the target signal was about to disappear, the tactical commander gave the order, monitoring all possible directions where the “enemy” submarine might attempt to escape. The mission crew swiftly responded, adjusting their tactical strategy accordingly.

“The complex battlefield environment serves as a ‘grinding stone’ for honing combat capabilities and a ‘talisman’ for testing the effectiveness of military training. We organize night-and-day combat training exercises to comprehensively refine the actual combat capabilities of the troops,” explained a leader from the unit. They have abandoned the traditional training methods of setting standardized enemy scenarios, simplifying special situations, and standardizing combat training procedures. Instead, they have created a realistic battlefield environment to enable officers and soldiers to hone their skills in actual combat situations.

Within the anti-submarine patrol aircraft, the personnel at various stations worked in perfect harmony and handled their tasks with composure. The pilots skillfully controlled the aircraft, maintaining a steady airspeed and altitude to ensure the precise deployment of sonar buoys. The sonar operators closely monitored the screens, carefully sifting through the chaotic noise to continuously capture target signals. Soon, the underwater target was successfully pinpointed.

“Engage!” Upon receiving information about the target’s location, the tactical commander ordered the aircraft to adjust its position and enter the attack route, simulating an attack on the “enemy” submarine.

After the training concluded, a debriefing session was held. The personnel participating in the training reviewed and analyzed the flight data, sonar recordings, and other relevant information. They identified several areas for improvement and clarified the direction for future training. The leaders of the unit stated that they would continue to optimize and refine the anti-submarine training mechanism to enhance the overall combat capabilities of the unit in complex electromagnetic environments. (Looking into the New Era)