H-6J Appears at Huangyan Island! Netizens: What Missile is That?

August 1

Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army

Conducted joint naval and air exercises in the territorial waters, airspace, and surrounding maritime airspace of Huangyan Island

H-6J showcased its capabilities with 4 missiles

Many netizens are curious:

What exactly are these 4 missiles?

Joint naval and air exercises of the Southern Theater Command

What are the main tasks of the H-6J?

At 8 a.m. on August 1, a naval fleet consisting of the Zhanjiang and Qilian Mountain ships arrived on time at the exercise area. The H-6J, equipped with electronic pods on its wingtips and carrying 4 missiles underneath its wings, took off from the Southern Theater Air Force airport and flew to the airspace near Huangyan Island. Under the command of an early warning aircraft, naval and air forces immediately conducted joint patrols around Huangyan Island.

The H-6J is an improved version of the H-6K platform, tailored for maritime combat needs. According to naval operational requirements, it is equipped with long-range surface search radar and an electro-optical turret under its nose, and special hardpoints for carrying electronic reconnaissance pods have been added to the wingtips, significantly enhancing its self-protection and situational awareness capabilities in complex electromagnetic environments.

Military commentator Zhang Xuefeng stated that in this joint naval and air exercise, the H-6J participated in at least 3 practical training scenarios:

1. Reconnaissance and early warning: The H-6J can use its onboard sensors to scout enemy targets, which not only meets its own weapon launch requirements but also provides more data support for the system;

2. Deterrent patrol: The H-6J played a crucial role in deterrent patrols, demonstrating China's strong determination to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights;

3. Joint strike: The H-6J can use its large anti-ship missiles to strike maritime targets. On one hand, it can practice using its own sensors to gather data for missile loading parameters and simulated launches; on the other hand, it can rely on system-provided data for target positioning, practicing its combat capabilities for maritime strikes within the system.

What missiles are carried under the wings of the participating H-6J?

In this exercise, another point of great interest regarding the H-6J is that it carried 4 missiles under its wings, leading many netizens to ask: What exactly are these 4 missiles?

Zhang Xuefeng indicated that these 4 missiles are quite large and, based on their appearance, they should be YJ-12 anti-ship missiles. This type of missile has several characteristics:

1. Strong penetration capability, with a very high flight speed, capable of exceeding Mach 3.5;

2. Very long range, at least four to five hundred kilometers, which means our launch platform can strike from outside the range of the opponent's air defense systems;

3. Very powerful; just one hit can effectively incapacitate a large surface warship of the opponent, and it can even be considered a carrier killer.

The types of munitions carried by the H-6 series are constantly expanding

The H-6J is a member of the entire H-6 family. The H-6 is China's first medium bomber with medium to long-range strike capabilities, and military enthusiasts affectionately refer to the H-6 as "Old Six." Over more than half a century, from early imitation modifications to the emergence of various models like the H-6K, H-6J, and H-6N, the H-6 platform has been continuously iterated and upgraded.

Zhang Xuefeng explained that as the H-6 platform is iterated and upgraded, the types of munitions it carries are also constantly expanding, and its payload capacity is continuously increasing. The basic model of the H-6 has a maximum payload of about 9 tons, and through continuous improvements, the maximum payload of the H-6 has increased to about 15 tons. Later, with the H-6K, H-6J, and H-6N, the munitions have been further optimized and upgraded, enhancing their deterrent capabilities.

Regarding the "Old Six's" arsenal, there is a popular saying among military enthusiasts: "Don't fear the 'Old Six' carrying many, fear the 'Old Six' carrying just one." Many military fans believe that "one" refers to the Jinglei-1 missile. Why is the H-6N carrying the Jinglei-1 so noteworthy?

Zhang Xuefeng stated that the Jinglei-1 is an air-based nuclear missile, and if combined with the H-6N, it can give us an advantage in nuclear strikes. The range of the Jinglei-1 is several thousand kilometers, and it can even be launched from our territory. Additionally, the Jinglei-1 has a very strong penetration capability, with a very high flight speed, and with some special penetration measures, it is very difficult for the opponent to intercept.

Source: Comprehensive report from the Xinhua News Agency WeChat account, People's Daily WeChat, CCTV Military, CCTV-13 "Military Situation Time"