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A H-6K bomber. (Internet photo)
Capable of carrying seven YJ-12 supersonic antiship cruise missiles or CJ-20 subsonic land attack cruise missiles, the PLA Air Force's H-6K strategic bomber is going to be nearly invincible in future aerial warfare over the Western Pacific, according to the Moscow-based Sputnik News.
The combat radius of a H-6J bomber is estimated to be 1,900 kilometers, said the report. With the assistance of aerial refueling aircraft, the combat radius of the bomber will be gradually expand to 3,200 kilometers.
Currently, the PLA Air Force operates a total number of 26 H-6K bombers. During several exercises held in the past, the H-6K was proven capable of long-range penetration into enemy air space, said the report.
Unlike the US Air Force's B-2 bomber, the H-6K, modeled after the Soviet Union's Cold War era Tu-16 bomber, has no stealth capabilities. However, the new YJ-12 and CJ-20 missile systems will allow the bomber to launch an attack a safe distance from enemy air defense systems, said the report.
The lacking of a proper weapon aiming system is the only weakness of the H-6 bomber. China is still unable to develop or purchase the device regularly, delaying the strategic bomber from gaining the ability to launch precision attacks against targets. The only strategy left is for the bomber to compensate by launching more missiles than the enemy, according to the article.
H-6K is nearing invincibility: Sputnik News|WCT