China’s Xi’an H-6 bomber, originally considered a relic of the Cold War era, has been making headlines recently for its activities in the East and South China Seas. Despite its aging platform, the H-6 has undergone significant modernization to become a formidable cruise missile carrier, transforming its role in the modern battlefield. This revitalized aircraft is now a key component in China’s strategy of anti-access/area denial (A2/AD), playing a crucial role in its regional military ambitions.
In July 2024, Chinese state media showcased images of the H-6K variant equipped with four air-launched ballistic missiles, identified as the YJ-21 by foreign analysts. This marked a significant upgrade from its previous ability to carry just two missiles as of 2022. The YJ-21 missile, believed to travel at hypersonic speeds, is capable of striking both stationary targets and slow-moving targets such as aircraft carriers from extended distances, further enhancing China’s long-range strike capabilities.
H-6: A Legacy Bomber with New Teeth
The H-6K is a modern variant of the H-6 bomber, which itself is a Chinese license-built version of the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-16. First introduced in the 1950s, the Tu-16 was an early jet bomber with a range and payload capability that made it one of the most significant Soviet bombers of its time. When China began producing its own version, the H-6, it initially served as a strategic bomber tasked with nuclear deterrence.
Over time, however, the H-6 shifted its focus towards conventional bombing and missile delivery. The H-6K variant, which first flew in 2007 and entered service in 2009, represents the pinnacle of this transformation. With modernized avionics, an upgraded radar system, and reinforced wings designed to carry heavy missiles, the H-6K has evolved into a “missile truck” capable of delivering precision strikes over long distances.
Hypersonic Capabilities: The YJ-21 Missile
The addition of the YJ-21 hypersonic missile to the H-6K’s arsenal is perhaps its most notable recent enhancement. Hypersonic missiles are distinguished by their ability to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, making them incredibly difficult to intercept. According to reports, the YJ-21 is capable of hitting both land-based and maritime targets, including slow-moving aircraft carriers, at these extreme speeds.
This capability is especially significant in the context of China’s broader A2/AD strategy, which aims to deny adversaries—most notably the United States—access to key areas in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly the East and South China Seas. By deploying the H-6K armed with YJ-21 missiles, China can extend its reach far beyond its shores, posing a significant challenge to naval forces operating in the region.
Chinese state media has drawn comparisons between the YJ-21 and Russia’s Kinzhal missile, which is carried by the MiG-31 fighter jet. While the H-6K may not match the stealth or speed of more modern bombers like the American B-21 Raider, its ability to launch hypersonic missiles makes it a credible threat in any future conflict, particularly in maritime environments.
China’s Anti-Access/Area Denial Capabilities
The H-6K’s role in China’s A2/AD strategy cannot be overstated. As tensions continue to simmer in the South China Sea, where China has made expansive territorial claims, the ability to project power over long distances is crucial. The H-6K’s enhanced payload, combined with its long-range strike capabilities, provides the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) with a potent tool for deterring or engaging adversarial forces.
The H-6K’s capacity to carry multiple long-range anti-ship and land-attack missiles—such as the CJ-10 cruise missile—makes it especially useful in countering enemy naval forces. With the CJ-10 boasting a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, the H-6K can launch missiles from well outside the range of most naval defense systems, saturating enemy defenses with a barrage of supersonic or even hypersonic missiles.
Moreover, the H-6K’s ability to target aircraft carriers—the cornerstone of U.S. naval power—adds another layer of complexity for military planners. By deploying H-6Ks with YJ-21 or YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles, China can create a significant “no-go zone” for U.S. carrier strike groups, effectively pushing them further away from critical areas such as Taiwan or the South China Sea.
The H-6’s transformation is part of a broader trend among the world’s leading military powers to modernize their bomber fleets. Only three countries—China, the United States, and Russia—currently operate strategic bombers, and all three nations continue to develop new variants and technologies to maintain their air superiority.
The United States, for example, remains ahead of the curve with the recent unveiling of its B-21 Raider, a next-generation stealth bomber that made its maiden flight earlier this year. In contrast, Russia’s aging fleet of bombers, including the Tupolev Tu-95 ‘Bear’ and Tu-160 ‘Blackjack,’ is being supplemented by the development of the PAK DA, a stealth bomber expected to be operational by 2027.
China, for its part, is also working on the Xi’an H-20 stealth bomber, which is expected to give the PLAAF a true strategic bomber capable of long-range missions with stealth capabilities. However, until the H-20 becomes operational, the H-6K remains China’s primary bomber for both conventional and nuclear strike missions.
Evolution of Bombers in the Nuclear Age
The role of bombers has evolved significantly since the early days of the Cold War when they were primarily used as nuclear delivery systems. At that time, bombers like the American B-52 Stratofortress and the Soviet Tu-16 were central to nuclear deterrence, providing a way to deliver atomic weapons to enemy targets.
With the advent of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), the bomber’s role as a nuclear delivery platform diminished. However, bombers continued to evolve, adopting stealth technology and precision-guided munitions to remain relevant in the modern battlefield.
Today, strategic bombers are used for a variety of missions, from conventional bombing campaigns to long-range missile strikes. In China’s case, the H-6’s primary mission has shifted from nuclear deterrence to conventional warfare, particularly in the maritime domain. However, the H-6K retains the capability to deliver nuclear weapons, ensuring its continued relevance in China’s nuclear triad.
H-6’s Strategic Role in Asia-Pacific Tensions
The H-6’s recent activities in the East and South China Seas, including its incursions into the air defense identification zones (ADIZ) of Taiwan and Japan, underscore its importance in China’s broader military strategy. These incursions, often conducted in coordination with other PLAAF assets such as J-11 and J-16 fighter jets, are designed to test the readiness of regional air forces and assert China’s territorial claims.
For years, H-6 bombers have been involved in provocative missions, including circumnavigating Taiwan and approaching Japanese airspace. In July 2017, six H-6K bombers flew through the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait, prompting Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to scramble jets. Similar incidents have occurred regularly since then, with Chinese bombers probing the air defenses of both Taiwan and Japan.
These incursions serve multiple purposes for China. First, they allow the PLAAF to gather intelligence on regional air defenses and response times. Second, they send a clear signal to both Taiwan and Japan that China is willing and able to project military power in their vicinity. Finally, they serve as a warning to the United States, whose military presence in the Asia-Pacific region is viewed by China as a threat to its regional ambitions.
Despite its origins as a Soviet-era bomber, the Xi’an H-6 has proven to be a remarkably adaptable platform. Through successive upgrades and modernizations, the H-6K has become a vital component of China’s military strategy, capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear strikes over long distances.
The addition of hypersonic missiles like the YJ-21 has further enhanced the H-6K’s lethality, making it a formidable adversary in any potential conflict, particularly in the contested waters of the East and South China Seas. As China continues to assert its influence in the region, the H-6K will likely remain a key tool in its military arsenal, capable of striking targets far beyond its borders.
In the broader context of global bomber development, the H-6K stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of strategic bombers, even in an age of advanced missile systems and stealth technology. As the United States, Russia, and China continue to develop next-generation bombers, the H-6K serves as a reminder that even aging platforms can be transformed into potent weapons of war.
