A J-10 fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command taxies to the runway for a recent round-the-clock combat flight training exercise. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wei Jinxin and Li Yixuan)

Pilots assigned to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command lower the canopy on their J-10 fighter jet before taxiing to take off during a recent round-the-clock combat flight training exercise. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wei Jinxin and Li Yixuan)

Three J-10 fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command arrive for duty at a military airfield in eastern China during a recent round-the-clock combat flight training exercise. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wei Jinxin and Li Yixuan)

Four J-10 fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command fly in an echelon formation in an aerial patrol mission during a recent round-the-clock combat flight training exercise. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wei Jinxin and Li Yixuan)

A group of J-10 fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command sit abreast with each other awaiting takeoff at night during a recent round-the-clock combat flight training exercise. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wei Jinxin and Li Yixuan)