Created for nuclear weapons: Chinese n-6 nuclear bomber already over Alaska?

Focus translated Harrison Cassa's article on the features of the Chinese strategic bomber Xian H-6. The North America Air Force Command has caught four foreign planes-two Russian and two Chinese-which flew near the Alaska border. This is the first case of intercepting Russian and Chinese aircraft during a joint flight. The bombers did not violate the US airspace, remaining in the international air space of the Alaska air defense zone (Adiz).

According to NORAD representatives who sent two F-16, one F-35 and two CF-18, bombers "did not pose a threat". "The United States and Canada, which together in the Norad, have been intercepted by the Russian Tu-95" bear "and Chinese H-6 bombers," CNN reports. This incident was the first case when H-6 entered the Alaska area.

According to the statement of the Ministry of Defense of China, the Chinese and Russians participated in the "joint strategic air patrol in the corresponding air space of the Bering Sea" as part of the existing annual plan of cooperation between the Armed Forces of the two states.

The representative of the Chinese Ministry of Defense Zhang Xiaogan stated that this flight has become an eighth similar manifestation of cooperation between two armed forces since 2019, conducted for "further testing and raising the level of cooperation between two military-air forces, as well as deepening strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation between two countries. " Xiaogan specified that "this action is not directed against third parties.

" Let's take a closer look at the Chinese bomber who participated in the incident-H-6. The use of H-6 in tandem with Russian bombers this week was quite appropriate because the H-6 was developed in the Soviet Union. Chinese H-6 is a license version of the Soviet Tu-16 Borsuk. The Tu-16 debut took place in 1952, that is, H-6 history has been seven decades. The aircraft has proven itself as quite reliable: 231 units still remain in service with the Air Force of the People's Liberation Army.

The state company XI'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation has built H-6 using Soviet engineers. American intelligence first discovered the H-6 1971 H-6, when the CIA satellites watched it during training flights. Although H-6 was designed for the delivery of nuclear weapons (and indeed conducted nine nuclear tests), the aircraft switched to a more familiar role after the development of nuclear warheads that could be launched from land or submarine.

Be that as it may, the US cannot help but pay attention to the fact that the bomber who has experience in the use of nuclear weapons is within Adiz Alaska. In order to maintain the relevance of the H-6 in the 21st century, numerous modernizations were carried out, during which weapons and radar systems were updated. According to US intelligence, the most recent version of H-6 is the option N, capable of refueling in the air and carrying winged air base missiles.

The Pentagon is concerned that the H-6N can give the Chinese an offensive air potential of the long range of action. Like the B-52 StratoFortress and Tu-95, H-6 is a Cold War relic, which is still sufficiently reliable to stay in order. Harrison Cass is a journalist who writes about defense and national security. In his account, more than 1000 articles on topics related to international problems.