A South War Zone (PLA) machine gun regiment of the People’s Liberation Army organized at least 10 bombers from the two lines to conduct maritime attack drills after the Chinese New Year holiday ends, according to Central Television China (CCTV) on February 23.
During the exercise, the missile bombers were targeting multiple targets in the sea, bomber regiment commander Ly Hai Dao said CCTV. The exercise also tests the ability to cooperate in warfare between the new pilot and the veteran pilot.
Military observers confirmed that the previous two bombers, including the H-6J, the most advanced bomber in the Chinese navy, are believed to be capable of carrying 6 anti-ship cruise missiles; and the H-6G series, the previous generation naval bomber that can carry four missiles, according to Hoan Cau Times newspaper February 24th.
[VIDEO] China prepares for exercise after US aircraft carriers crossed the South China Sea
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Both the H-6J and H-6G conducted the exercises in the South China Sea in July 2020, shortly after the two US carrier battle groups joined forces in those waters. The latest 10 Chinese bomber exercises are similar, after two US carrier battle groups joined forces in the South China Sea on September 9.
Two US carrier battle groups joined the South China Sea for more than a week after the Chinese Customs Law came into effect. This law allows the Coast Guard to open fire on foreign ships in the so-called waters of China’s jurisdiction.
CCTV did not specify the training locations for the 10 bombers. Meanwhile, a Chinese military expert said Hoan Cau Times newspaper that the bomber exercises show that the country has a great military advantage in the South China Sea, as the PLA can protect China’s supposed sovereignty not only with anti-ship ballistic missiles, but also with attacks from bombers, warships and submarines.
