The group were arrested in Laos and brought to China in May last year, after Beijing said the attack had happened on board Chinese-flagged ships.

BBC: China parades foreign Mekong killers before execution

The attack started a fire on board the Cypriot-owned, Russian-operated Captain Maslov, but the crew members were able to extinguish the flames, the ministry said.

CNN: Ship escapes pirate attack off Somalia, Russia says

On board the aircraft carriers there are typically 70-80 planes for defence, attack, refuelling in flight, jamming enemy communications and radars, and for airborne surveillance and control.

BBC: F/A-18C prepares to launch from the USS Enterprise