Recently, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) released footage showing its H-6N bomber flying with a nuclear-capable Jing Lei-1 (JL-1) air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM), offering a rare glimpse into China’s airborne nuclear strike capability.
This disclosure coincides with China expanding the operational scope of its H-6 bombers beyond its immediate airspace.
In July 2024, two H-6s were observed conducting a joint patrol near Alaska for the first time alongside their Russian counterpart, the Tu-95, prompting the US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defence Command to scramble their fighter jets.
For the past six decades, the H-6 has served as Beijing’s primary strategic strike aircraft. With the JL-1 ALBM capable of being mounted on the H-6N bomber, China is now considered to have completed its nuclear triad, significantly boosting its nuclear deterrence and second-strike capability.