Recently, during joint military exercises conducted by the People's Liberation Army around Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, a formidable weapon was once again unveiled! How powerful is the H-6J strategic bomber, equipped with two electronic pods and four YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles? To what extent does it threaten U.S. aircraft carriers?
In previous PLA military drills, H-6J bombers carrying YJ-12 missiles were relatively common, but simultaneously mounting two electronic pods was rare. The addition of electronic pods not only enhances situational awareness but also enables precise target designation for the large anti-ship missiles—such as the YJ-12—without having to activate radar, thereby enabling silent attacks. The YJ-12 is China’s fourth-generation supersonic anti-ship missile. When launched from high altitude, its range reaches 600 kilometers, with a cruise speed of 4 Mach, a flight profile flying just 5–15 meters above sea level, and terminal-stage snake-like maneuverability. Armed with a 500-kilogram high-explosive warhead, a single YJ-12 can seriously damage or sink a large aircraft carrier, earning it the nickname “carrier killer.”
One H-6J bomber can carry four YJ-12 missiles; thus, four such bombers could deliver 16 missiles. A standard U.S. carrier strike group consists of one aircraft carrier, four surface escort warships, one replenishment vessel, and 1–2 nuclear-powered submarines. If we assume that three missiles are allocated per warship, then just four H-6J bombers launching all 16 YJ-12 missiles would have a high probability of destroying the entire surface combatant component of a U.S. carrier group.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873011552487563/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.