China’s first aircraft carrier has for the first time undergone a live-fire drill, which included the launch of several missiles as Beijing showed off its military might.

Footage of the recent military exercise, which involved the Liaoning carrier and dozens of ships, aircraft and a range of missiles – was broadcast by China Central Television on Thursday night.

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The drill took place in Bohai Sea in the northeast of the country.

The broadcast was also the first time that a live-fire drill of China’s J-15 carrier-borne fighter jets had been shown to the public.

During the drill, missiles were launched from the Liaoning’s ship-to-air missile system while the J-15 launched air-to-air and air-to-ship missiles.

The Liaoning and several destroyers in formation also carried out a series of tasks including air interception, sea assault and anti-air and anti-missile exercises, aided by J-15 carrier-borne fighter jets. The J-15s were shown in the footage launching several missiles.

 

 

 

The Liaoning, which has been extensively refurbished after it was imported from Ukraine, had been declared combat ready only last month.

“Through this exercise, our confidence in the weaponry and the entire system was boosted,” said Xu Ying, commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s navy surface force J-15 squadron.