Overview
- A PLA airman on CCTV described the pods as giving the bomber an extra pair of eyes for wider-area detection beyond onboard radar.
- The naval variant can carry YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles with an estimated range of about 250 miles, posing a stand-off threat to large surface vessels.
- Chinese media report the H-6J roughly doubles the weapons load of earlier maritime versions, extends combat radius by about 50% to around 2,175 miles, and adds eight wing hardpoints.
- China’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed the H-6J was operational in 2020, and the aircraft has since taken part in training over the South China Sea.
- Previous reports suggest the pods may support electronic warfare, a role not independently verified, and analysts note the bomber’s long-range effectiveness relies on maintaining networked kill chains.