File photo shows the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force conducting a high-sea training mission. Shen Jinke, spokesperson for the PLA Air Force, said a formation, including H-6K bombers and Su-30 fighters, carried out a real combat training mission in the West Pacific via the Miyako Strait. The PLA Air Force has sent another team consisting of combat aircraft, including H-6K bombers and Su-35 fighter jets, for a joint combat patrol mission in the South China Sea area, according to Shen.
By Yin Han
China's air force has grown stronger in combat capability and will reinforce its military presence in both the high seas and the air, a Chinese military commentator said on Sunday after the PLA Air Force released a video promoting its H-6K bomber.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force released "China's H-6K bomber spreads its wings," a 3-minute-and- 12-second promotional video displaying the development of the newly commissioned bomber in the last three years, the PLA Daily reported on Saturday.
"Confidence to fight and win battles," "Courage to accept and fulfill tasks" and "Will to gain and show greater strength" read the English subtitles for the video.
H-6K is China's first home-made strategic bomber with the longest range and maximum bomb capacity, Cao Weidong, a military commentator told the Global Times previously.
During wartime the H-6K can drop bombs and launch missiles, Cao said, and because of its long flight time, it can fly over the Nansha Islands for reconnaissance, surveillance and patrols.
"The H-6K can achieve high accuracy when it arrives at the target," Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator told the Global Times. H-6K is capable of releasing a nuclear strike bomb and it would be used in patrolling the East China Sea when facing a threat from countries including the US and Japan. And the South China Sea would be H-6K's main stage, Song said.
New technologies have been applied and tested for the H-6K, which aided research and development of a new generation long-range strategic bomber, the H-20, Song noted.
A squadron of 12 H-6K bombers was sent from China's Guanzhong Plain region to conduct a long-range combat drill, according to an article posted on the PLA Air Force official Sina Weibo account on March 27.
The PLA Air Force unit also performs missions including routine high-seas drills in the West Pacific, regular patrols in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone and military patrols in the South China Sea, according to the article.
"China's PLA Air Force has and will continue to carry out regular patrols over the high seas just as the video shows," Song said.
"Other countries should consider patrolling as normal and not be surprised. Considering that China's air force has become stronger, some countries should think twice before provoking China."
