Why did a Chinese bomber carry a nuclear-capable missile in an anti-ship exercise?
The People’s Liberation Army has unveiled the first official footage showing a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile, the Jing Lei-1, mounted on an H-6N bomber in combat-ready status during a joint anti-ship exercise. The strategic bomber was seen in flight, carrying a massive missile under its belly, in the final episode of the documentary Securing Victory, which has been airing on…
In a recent anti-ship exercise, a Chinese H-6N bomber was captured on official footage carrying a nuclear-capable missile, the Jing Lei-1, in combat-ready condition. The H-6N, accompanied by two J-20 stealth fighters, was shown in flight with the massive JL-1 missile under its belly during the documentary Securing Victory, which aired on state broadcaster CCTV as part of the celebrations for the PLA’s 99th anniversary on August 1.
Military observers believe the JL-1 is the likely culprit due to its size and unique profile. The Jing Lei-1, also known as "startling thunder," is considered the final piece of China's nuclear triad, granting its strategic bombers a long-range air-based deterrent capability. The first public appearance of the JL-1 was during a military parade in September, showcasing PLA's latest weaponry.
The missile was deployed during a PLA Southern Theatre Command drill to practice anti-ship joint operations. Analysts believe the JL-1 is intended to target strategically significant locations like regional hubs, bases, and headquarters, rather than any ordinary ship. The missile's range, reportedly over 5,000km, combined with the H-6N's combat radius of 4,000km, allows it to cover nearly the entire Pacific Ocean.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
