Chinese Military Analysts Detail PLA Navy's Upgraded H-6J Bomber: Enhanced Range and Reconnaissance

Chinese military analysts have provided new details on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s H-6J maritime strike bomber, revealing that its distinctive reconnaissance pods grant it an “extra pair of eyes” and a combat radius extended to approximately 3,500km. The aircraft is emerging as a core asset for long-range precision strikes and peacetime surveillance in contested waters like the South China Sea.

In the high-stakes arena of maritime competition, seeing farther often means striking first. New analysis of the PLA Navy’s H-6J bomber underscores this principle, detailing how recent upgrades transform this legacy platform into a modern, long-range maritime watchdog. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the key external difference from its Air Force cousin, the H-6K, is the addition of two prominent 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,” said Cai Suliang, a member of a PLA bomber formation, in a state media interview. This enhanced vision is critical for the H-6J’s primary role: serving as a long-range anti-ship weapon crucial to China’s deterrence strategy, particularly in scenarios involving Taiwan.

But what exactly does this new sight enable? Military analysts break it down. The pods are designed to detect targets, especially slow-moving ships, from beyond the range of the aircraft’s onboard radar. “By using the reconnaissance pod, the aircraft can detect targets at greater distances… which is beneficial for long-range strikes,” explained military analyst Song Zhongping. This capability allows the H-6J to effectively employ its primary armament, the YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship cruise missile, which has an estimated range of 400km.

The improvements are not merely sensory. The H-6J represents a significant leap in endurance and payload over previous naval bombers. Reports indicate its combat radius has been extended by about 50 per cent to roughly 3,500km. Furthermore, its weapons capacity is nearly double that of the older H-6G, thanks to an increase in wing hardpoints. This combination of reach, vision, and punch solidifies its role.

Aviation analyst Fu Qianshao highlighted the bomber’s growing multi-role flexibility, a theme consistently reported by the South China Morning Post. “In wartime, it can be armed with missiles to conduct strike missions, while in peacetime it can carry out long-range reconnaissance operations,” Fu said. This dual utility makes it a persistent threat in regions like the South China Sea, where it has regularly conducted training exercises.

The H-6J’s upgrades are part of a broader modernization of China’s H-6 fleet, which includes the nuclear-capable H-6N and the ubiquitous H-6K. Their continued development signals a commitment to extending the service life and capability of this strategic platform. The investment goes beyond the airframe itself, as seen in the parallel development of new weapons like the hypersonic YJ-21 missile, likely intended for launch from these very bombers.

The enhanced H-6J exemplifies the PLA’s focus on integrated, long-range systems for anti-access/area-denial. By marrying extended range with advanced reconnaissance, China ensures its naval aviation can not only threaten adversary ships from a great distance but also independently find and track them across the vast expanse of the western Pacific. It is a clear signal that in the calculus of modern maritime warfare, seeing far is just as important as hitting hard.