92950 Unit Awarded First-Class Merit, Sparking Sino-American Electronic Warfare Speculation

According to Xinhua News on July 9, President Xi Jinping of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China recently signed a decree awarding the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s 92950 Unit a first-class merit, and Liu Aijun of the Army Engineering University a third-class merit in national defense technology.

Many people have associated this with recent rumors of Sino-American electronic warfare and have elaborated in detail. However, the short time interval makes this unlikely, and the awarding of a first-class merit in China should not be so rushed.

Public information indicates that 92950 is the carrier-based aircraft unit of China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, and is also the earliest carrier-based aircraft flight unit in China. Earlier this year, Zhang Min, the Chief of Staff of the 92950 Unit and a first-class naval pilot, was awarded the 28th “China Youth May Fourth Medal.”

Some reports also mention that Zhang Min has undertaken missions on both the Liaoning and Shandong carriers. In a report from April 2020, he became a landing signal officer (LSO) for carrier-based aircraft no later than January 2020, with the PLA Daily using photos of the Liaoning and describing part of its layout. The Liaoning is located at the Qingdao Comprehensive Support Base, while the Shandong belongs to the Sanya Comprehensive Support Base and was commissioned too late. The Fujian carrier is still undergoing sea trials and is currently docked at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.

Based on this and other information: the 92950 Unit is a naval aviation unit stationed on the Liaoning, under the North Sea Fleet, with a base and radar station in Xingcheng, Huludao. Communication with Xingcheng can use the postal code 125100. It has a certain combat capability but has undertaken many experimental and training projects, and has assisted with some tests and training for the South Sea Fleet’s Shandong carrier. The only confirmed equipment of the unit includes various types of J-15 fighters.

In summary:

1. It is a carrier-based aircraft unit, stationed on the Liaoning, with no relation to electronic warfare.

2. The unit mainly serves as a training unit, cultivating many carrier-based aircraft pilots.

3. It primarily flies the J-15 fighter jets, with no relation to the FC-31/J-35.