H-6K West Pacific Training Flies Over 1,000 Kilometers Beyond the "First Island Chain"

The H-6K bomber is known as the "God of War in the Sky." In March 2015, the Chinese Air Force's H-6K bomber made its first foray beyond the "First Island Chain," flying over the Western Pacific. Over the past 11 years, the H-6K has traversed the Bashi Channel, the Miyako Strait, and the Tsushima Strait, achieving regular long-range training in the Western Pacific, routine patrols in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, regular island patrols, and consistent combat patrols in the South China Sea, becoming an important force in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

During a certain training exercise, the Air Force deployed various types of aircraft, including bombers and fighter jets, to conduct long-range training in the Western Pacific. Unlike previous missions, this time, the H-6K bomber would fly more than 1,000 kilometers beyond the "First Island Chain."

One hour later, a pair of aircraft formations arrived at the entrance of the Bashi Channel, just as the command post reported: two foreign aircraft were approaching.

Air Force Unit Wang Jianling: After he got close to us, he showed us his belly, displaying his missiles, somewhat like an attack posture.

Air Force Unit Li Rui: It's like two people, and one person is holding a gun, you could say the trigger is ready to fire at any moment.

This is the Chinese Air Force conducting routine training; do not interfere with our operations. Leave immediately, or you will bear the consequences.

Air Force Unit Li Rui: My aircraft represents the country; the dignity of the nation must not be compromised.

Faced with layers of obstruction from the foreign aircraft, the crew maintained their course and altitude, arriving on time at the target airspace and completing all scheduled training objectives. That day, they flew more than 1,000 kilometers beyond the "First Island Chain" for the first time, setting multiple records for the Air Force's longest operational distance.

Air Force Unit Li Rui: Everyone was very excited; we wield our swords across the world, and first, this sword has been forged.

Squadron Leader Mutafa Ali of the Second Flight Team of a certain Air Force Aviation Regiment: Long-range precision strikes, and then striking from outside the defense zone, means you can't hit me, but my missiles can hit you; when the bombers are deployed, it gets serious.

The range and payload capacity of the H-6K enable it to perform missions over a broader area, whether for long-range strikes or large-area patrols. The upgrade of the weapon systems is a major highlight of the H-6K, with multiple hardpoints added under the wings for carrying various advanced weapons.

(Source: China Central Television's Defense Military Channel "Forging the Sword" program)