Routine patrol with AKD20 ALCM

According to Xinhuai News, the PLAAF H-6 and Su-35 partner-in-crime just conducted another circling patrol around an island "130km East of Fujian".  The patrol itself is not news per se for those who follow the PLAAF, what's interesting is that those H-6Ks are armed with a pair of AKD20 ALCM each.   The AKD20 ALCM is an advanced variant of the AKD10, its turbofan engine capable of pushing it to a target 1500 to 2500km away and with a CEP of 10m to boot.

With AKD20 ALCM in the picture, perhaps the pair is training with another island in mind, an island that is 3,149 km East of Fujian.   

Su-35's  ferry range = 4,500km

The H-6K is the PLA's most advanced bomber and is capable of carrying supersonic cruise missiles to make precision strikes against land targets or ships. Foreign military observers said that the plane has a flight range of about 3,500 kilometers, while its cruise missile has a minimum range of 1,500 km, which means the bomber is able to hit targets at least 5,000 km from its takeoff point.

 China sends Su-35 fighter jets for island patrol
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-11 23:16:03|Editor: yan
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-05/11/c_137172784.htm
GUANGZHOU, May 11 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force conducted patrol circling China's island of Taiwan on Friday.

Su-35 fighter jets flew over the Bashi Channel in formation with the H-6Ks for the first time, marking a new breakthrough in island patrol patterns, said Shen Jinke, spokesperson for the PLA air force.

"The coordinated operation of Su-35 fighters and H-6K bombers has created a strong combat system under high-sea conditions, which is crucial to dealing with security threats at sea, effectively managing crises, deterring and winning wars," said military expert Wang Mingzhi.

It marks an important improvement in real battle military training by the air force, Wang added.

The Eastern Theater Command and Southern Theater Command sent forces to conduct coordinated actions during the patrol.

Two groups of H-6Ks conducted the circling patrol, one group clockwise and the other counter-clockwise.

KJ-2000 airborne early warning aircraft and Su-35 and J-11 fighter jets flew over the Bashi Channel and Miyako Strait regions to accompany the bombers.

The air force will continue to carry out patrols circling the Taiwan island using multi-type combat aircraft in accordance with an established plan, Shen said.

"The air force has the resolve, the confidence, and the ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Shen said.

Tuesday, April 03, 2018

Range matters

Once again, PLAAF's H-6K fleet is venturing to the South China Sea to conduct another "routine" patrol with the newly imported Su-35 as escort.   J-16's ferry range is reported to be 3,900 KM vs Su-35's 4,500 KM.

Bombers, jets hone skills over South China Sea, western Pacific
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2018-03/26/content_7983206.htm

The People's Liberation Army Air Force recently conducted combat exercises over the western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea, according to its spokesman, Senior Colonel Shen Jinke.

Shen said on Sunday that a group of aircraft including H-6K bombers and Su-30 fighter jets flew over the Miyako Strait earlier last week and then carried out combat training over the western Pacific to verify their long-range operational capabilities.

At the same time, another group of H-6Ks, Su-35 fighter jets and other aircraft conducted a joint combat patrol over the South China Sea, practicing aerial maneuvers and strike tactics at sea, he said in a statement published by the Air Force.
The PLA Air Force has become adept at organizing sophisticated joint operations and is able to safeguard the country's sovereignty, national security and interests, Shen said.

This is the second time the PLA Air Force has sent its Su-35s－built by Russia's Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association and introduced to China in late 2016－to take part in exercises over the South China Sea. The first was in early February.

Photos released by the Air Force showed air-launched cruise missiles under the wings of the H-6K bombers participating in the exercises.

The H-6K is the PLA's most advanced bomber and is capable of carrying supersonic cruise missiles to make precision strikes against land targets or ships. Foreign military observers said that the plane has a flight range of about 3,500 kilometers, while its cruise missile has a minimum range of 1,500 km, which means the bomber is able to hit targets at least 5,000 km from its takeoff point.

A news release published by Japan's Joint Staff on Friday said that in addition to bombers and fighter jets the Chinese Air Force had dispatched a Tupolev Tu-154 signal intelligence jet and a Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft to participate in the western Pacific training exercise.

The Air Force began performing long-range, ocean-bound drills in March 2015 and has organized dozens of such operations since then.

Fu Qianshao, an expert from the PLA Air Force, said that ocean-bound exercises verify not only the Air Force's long-distance combat capability, but also its logistics support and electronic warfare abilities.

According to the Air Force, China is developing a new-generation strategic bomber that will be much stronger than the H-6K. Analysts believe the new aircraft will have a range of at least 10,000 km, enough to perform intercontinental missions.