On July 24, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) revealed an unprecedented event. For the first time, Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force H-6 strategic bombers, operating in conjunction with Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft, were detected flying within Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). As shown in the photos and videos that went viral afterward, partly due to the Russian Ministry of Defense, this prompted an immediate response when the formation of four bombers was intercepted by F-16, F/A-18 Hornet, and F-35A fighters from the U.S. and Canadian Air Forces.
The incident, officially reported by the involved parties, has drawn attention from various experts and analysts, highlighting China’s involvement. Although it is not the first combined air and naval patrol by Chinese and Russian armed forces, it is the first time H-6 bombers have been deployed in Alaska’s ADIZ, which until now had only seen combat aircraft from Russia, the U.S., and Canada.
Previously, combined patrols involving Russian and Chinese forces had occurred in the East China Sea, using formations including H-6 and Tu-95MS bombers, escorted by Su-35S and Su-30SM fighters. These patrols had been limited to reconnaissance and patrol flights in the Western Pacific. However, the presence of these aircraft in Alaska’s ADIZ signifies a new stance by China regarding the growing importance of the Arctic in the coming decades.
One question arising from the July 24 incident concerns the type of H-6 bomber used by the Chinese Air Force; another is whether they indeed departed from bases located in continental Russia. Confirming this would demonstrate the increasing level of military cooperation between the two countries and, presumably, a rise in interoperability and combined response capabilities against regional adversaries such as the United States.
Regarding the first question, the Xian H-6 strategic bombers are experiencing a second life with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force as platforms for launching cruise missiles and, presumably, new hypersonic missiles developed by China. For instance, this capability is demonstrated by the H-6K variant, which in recent weeks was observed carrying what appeared to be such a missile, specifically the 2PZD-21 (KD-21) ALBM.
As for the second question, if it is confirmed that the Chinese bombers operated from bases in Russia, it would open a new range of possibilities for the People’s Republic of China’s strategic combat aviation, showing increased interest in a region vital for the coming decades. Deploying platforms that, operating from Alaska’s ADIZ, could strike with hypersonic weapons targets on U.S. territorial and continental areas.
These issues have previously been highlighted by U.S. Northern Command and NORAD officials to the U.S. Congress. One of the most recent warnings came from USAF General Gregory Guillot, who said last February: “Fortunately, we have not yet seen Chinese aircraft operating near our air defense identification zones, but I think that will happen this year.” He added: “That reflects a general concern I have about China’s growing capability, not just with aircraft but also with ships and even submarines that can reach farther from China and closer to our shores.” These remarks were a clear reference to the presence of Chinese and Russian ships detected operating last year in the Aleutian Islands, which led to the deployment of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard assets to track the movements of the combined flotilla.
Regardless of the incident in Alaska’s ADIZ, the global rivalry between the United States and China, increasingly dominating major global concerns, is adding new scenarios and regions. Looking ahead, the Arctic, affected by climate change and the opening of previously ice-covered waterways, may become a new point of contention between the two powers competing for global hegemony.
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The Chinese H-6 is a license-built version of the Tupolev TU-16, NATO codename «Badger», a design that goes back to the early 1950s.
China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, all components of the Global Evil Empire who consistently strive to destabilize the planet.
Peace B. With you… Kind of ironic writing this arrogant accusation about others when your hypocrisy is exposed.
What a joke this was. Their planes were EMPTY, America NEVER Flys our planes EMPTY. LOL They were acting like children, but they knew not to go too far, they were afraid to fly their planes like MEN .. This sad, but showed, even these two weak countries know not tick Americans off, because AMERICAN planes are loaded with ammunition… lol
They keep pushing!
The mistake the kindness of those who try to find a peaceful path as a sign of weakness.
It’s pretty clear the United States has a capability though at great loss to defeat China especially when combined with NATO and other global allies making it impossible for China to truly believe they could ever come out of this as the winner.
They keep using the tactics of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to play the weak victim Being picked down by the world, in hopes of garnering support and sympathy.
All the while acting and pushing as the world’s bully.
They continue to insult the intelligence of the world that this works.
Only the most greedy and corrupt and most delusional and ignorant would even attempt to go along with it unless there was something significant in it for them.
Like the Belt and Road initiative, China feigns to help countries build roads ports airports and other infrastructure usually only under the conditions of only Chinese workers in minority of jobs for people that country to work only to later find out that all of those things built with the country incurring massive debt owed to China we’re only built in places that benefits China during wartime as they would annex and take all over all of those locations if they already haven’t done so because of the country’s default and inability to pay.
The same way the mafia loan sharks lend somebody money at extraordinarily high interest rates well-knowing most people will never be able to pay it off therefore enslaving them to their debt pain dozens of times more just in the vig aka interest until the mafia decides they’re just going to take over your business your home your car and your life if you refuse.
Where’s the United States has rebuilt every nation it’s ever gone to war with with looking for little or nothing in return only with the understanding that they become a better country and ally.
Those that bite the hand that fed them when things were tough like Iraq will continue to fail because of their corruption
If you look at the countries that support China, they are all losers
Which it makes it easier to choose which team you want to be on even despite America’s present problems They are still superior in almost every way to our “friends” in Beijing.
Time for Xi to pack up and go home. But they won’t and they won’t consider it until they’ve been beaten back into the last century taking half the world with them.
Now how stupid is that President Xi?!
WE SCRAMBLED NORAD. This is Xi running scared. Review his recent decision-making and please understand that he understands he and Russia are outgunned. Their economic problems include massive military spending along with economic slowdown combined with a crash in thereal estate market creates fear and uncertainty. The problem for the US is a weak president and even weaker VP, and an administration
that lies to the Ametican people and promotes one cover-up after another. To add to leadership problems, we also have a massive deficit created by overspending.
Pay close attention to the behavior of groups around the world .it appears to me that armies are forming up drawing lines in the sand and by doing so it looks to me that hidden alliances are also being shown to those who pay attention to such things .let’s hope that our nation manages to stay out of any more conflicts with ot andbhers and that our government stops sending mixed messages to the world by having the internal chaos that we’ve all seen for the past few years , it makes us look like we are weak and divided against ourselves. It’s time we choose a belief and be loyal to it .instead of adopting the opinions of others blindly without really thinking how we really feel about it. I read somewhere that a house divided will not stand , I believe that .as long as we are divided at our core our country is at great risk of falling prey to those who don’t have our best interest in mind. As long as we fight among ourselves our enemies can sit back and watch the show because we will end up destroying this country to the point that our enemies can take over without much resistance. Think about it america . God bless America