[Military Next Dimension] Author: Lele

In the situation where the US "Nimitz" aircraft carrier has returned to the depths of the South China Sea, and domestic H-6K bombers have unexpectedly appeared in the Xisha Islands, the European "Bulgarian Military" website briefly analyzed this round of competition, considering it as one of China's actions to demonstrate its anti-aircraft carrier system.

▲The "Bulgarian Military" website has high regard for the H-6K bomber.

From the leaked satellite images, it can be seen that not only has the H-6K bomber been deployed in the Xisha Islands domestically, but also Y-20A transport aircraft and KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft are accompanying support. This is a highly representative combat formation: the H-6K is the main battle force, the KJ-500 is responsible for commanding other aircraft and guiding missiles toward the target, while the Y-20A shoulders the critical transportation task. The division of labor is very reasonable. The "Bulgarian Military" website believes that the H-6K has been stationed in the Xisha Islands for many years, and its appearance at this key moment is not so much an accident as it is a specially designed exposure - for several years now, whenever an American aircraft carrier enters the South China Sea, it has received the "mixed formation of H-6K bombers taking off to greet" treatment, though this time it is more straightforward.

▲American aircraft carriers have indeed enjoyed special treatment in recent years.

Approximately around 2012, the domestically produced Yingji-12 supersonic anti-ship missile finally matured, and soon after, it was paired with the new generation of H-6K bombers, becoming the strongest anti-ship equipment in the navy's hands. Later, although more advanced DF-21D and even Yingji-21 missiles arrived, due to various factors, the Yingji-12 remains the most common air-based deterrent anti-ship weapon. Starting from around 2020, the naval and air forces of the southern theater began organizing mixed formations centered on the KJ-500, commanding J-16, J-11B, and even Su-30MKK fighters to guard the H-6K bombers, conducting drills deep into the South China Sea. Moreover, each time these formations were dispatched, it was just before or after an American aircraft carrier entered the South China Sea. A former commander of an American Navy Carrier Strike Group complained about this after his overseas deployment ended, but it did nothing to change the situation.

▲The Yingji-21 is truly a great thing.

For the U.S. Navy, a mixed formation of a dozen or so aircraft, or two forward-deployed H-6K bombers, may not pose a fatal threat. The key lies in the fact that no one can guarantee that there are only two H-6K bombers, and that the weapons they carry are only Yingji-12 missiles. "H-6K" can refer specifically to the land-based third-generation improved version of the H-6 bomber used by the air force, and also serves as a general term for H-6K, H-6J, and H-6N. Among these three, the H-6J, which has been upgraded for maritime combat environments, and the H-6N, which has added aerial refueling capability, each have their own unique skills - especially the H-6N, whose operational flexibility and strike range have increased exponentially under the rapid development of the Air Force's Y-20A tanker fleet.

▲The H-6N is currently the strongest bomber model that has surfaced domestically.

And what originally required dozens of Yingji-12 missiles to possibly break through the aircraft carrier's defense is very vulnerable to the Yingji-21. Russia also proved on the battlefield in Ukraine that a small number of hypersonic missiles mixed with ordinary long-range weapons can effectively break through the world's top-tier air defense units. In this situation, the South China Sea is virtually a nightmare battlefield for American aircraft carriers - anti-ship missiles may come from any direction, and they may suddenly include a small number of hypersonic missiles, or even the entire missile group consists of hypersonic missiles. It is precisely because of such a terrible situation that there is a special saying: "An American aircraft carrier entering the South China Sea proves that the U.S. government has abandoned its final option."

▲After receiving support from the KJ-500, the H-6's striking power has once again made a leap forward.

Of course, in terms of anti-aircraft carrier operations themselves, deploying H-6K bombers in the Xisha Islands is actually a relatively inefficient method; both land-based DF-21D missiles and submarines are more efficient, without worrying about being preemptively attacked by opponents. The problem is that the deterrence needs during peacetime and the actual striking means during wartime are not entirely the same - one cannot always bring out the DF-21D, and submarine deterrence is also somewhat limited. Moreover, the deployment of H-6K bombers in the Xisha Islands means that the Southern Theater Command has the ability to conduct long-range precision strikes at any time over the South China Sea (anti-ship operations are just a small part of it), which is essentially the same as stabilizing deployments of aircraft carrier strike groups using carrier-based aircraft to deter surrounding areas.

▲Shandong aircraft carrier frequently heads north for reinforcements.

The most important point is that, as one of the benefits of island-building in previous years, there are still many other options for constructing large airports domestically, some of which are already located in the middle of the South China Sea, serving as true "choke points." This explains why the Shandong aircraft carrier, which serves in the South Sea Fleet, often heads north for reinforcements - the "fixed aircraft carrier" in the South China Sea is already sufficient to maintain regional stability.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510532966058066484/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views. You can express your attitude by clicking the "Top/Downvote" button below.