China’s new H-6J maritime strike bomber: sharper vision, longer range, versatile roles

China’s H‑6J maritime strike bomber, equipped with two reconnaissance pods, indicates it has enhanced long-range strike capabilities while supporting peacetime maritime surveillance, according to military analysts.Cai Suliang, identified as a member of an unspecified People’s Liberation Army bomber formation, said that the H-6J, a new variant of the H-6 bomber series, differed from the H-6K in its external appearance – mainly due to additional reconnaissance pods.“This amounts to giving [the bomber] an extra pair of eyes, allowing it to see maritime targets at greater distances and across a wider area,” Cai said on a programme aired by state broadcaster CCTV last Wednesday.The H-6J is a naval variant of the PLA Air Force’s H-6K and is primarily designed as an anti-ship weapon, which is key to deterring vessels in various scenarios including a conflict over Taiwan.Cai Suliang, identified in a CCTV report as a member of an unspecified PLA bomber formation, says the H-6J can “see maritime targets at greater distances and across a wider area”. Photo: CCTVIn recent years, it has conducted training exercises in the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea, where Beijing’s territorial claims overlap with those of several neighbours, particularly the Philippines.