CRI听力:Flight Landing Tests on Liaoning

The first landings of the J-15 on China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, are taking place.

Military expert Yin Zhuo says the landings are no small feat.

"Carrier-borne fighter jet like J-15 needs a runway longer than 3,000 meters if it lands on land, but it is different when landing on the carrier. There are only 195 meters and you must fulfill every step within the short distance."

The PLA Navy says the J-15 has met all the criteria for carrier landings.

The J-15 is able to carry multiple types of anti-ship, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, as well as precision-guided bombs.

The "Liaoning" will be able to carry 30 J-15's.

It's going to be home to a crew of some 2-thousand sailors when it finally takes to sea full-time.

Professor Wang Baofu with the PLA's National Defense University says it may be a while before the aircraft carrier is ready to be fully operational.

"The combat capability for an aircraft carrier relies not only on the carrier itself and its carrier-borne fighter jets, but also on many other aspects such as the coordinating capability and commanding integration among the associated support ships. It is a complex system and requires a long period of time to develop."

The launching of the Liaoning this year has elevated China to an exclusive position among countries which operate aircraft carriers.

The United States operates a fleet of 11.

For CRI, I'm Abhijan Barua.