China's air force can launch long-range precise strikes
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BEIJING: China's air force can launch long-range precision strikes, state media on Wednesday cited a military expert as saying, as the country working to develop its offensive air capabilities.
Tension has grown in Asia as Beijing takes a more assertive stance on its territorial disputes in the South and East China seas, prompting many nations to ramp up military spending.
Countries from the Philippines to Vietnam and Japan have watched their giant neighbour's military rise with growing alarm, as China has built artificial islands in the South China Sea.
Read: China plane maker reveals stealth jet capabilities to lure buyers
In recent months, China has held several long-range air and naval drills far from its shores in the Pacific Ocean, including some involving sophisticated H-6K bombers.
The H-6K bombers can now carry and launch anti-ship missiles and cruise missiles, the official China Daily quoted aviation expert Fu Qianshao as saying.
"In the past, our bombers could only deliver airdropped bombs and so were unable to conduct precision attacks," said Fu, an expert with the air force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
But the H-6K had changed that picture.
"It can take out multiple targets on the ground or at sea within one mission," Fu said, adding that the capabilities had been proven by the recent drills far into the Pacific Ocean.
Analysts have watched the bomber's capabilities closely, as it represents China's first "strategic bomber" - meaning one designed to fly into enemy territory to take down distant, precise targets on the ground.
The newspaper did not identify potential targets.
In a report, the United States (US) Pentagon has said the bomber jets will heighten the PLA's long-range offensive capabilities in the air.
In June, the Pentagon said China was mounting a serious effort to challenge US military superiority in air and space, developing stealth aircraft, advanced reconnaissance planes and sophisticated missiles.
Also read: China developing new attack helicopter with stealth abilitiesf
On Tuesday, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said the US military would sail and fly wherever international law allowed, including the disputed South China Sea.
Last week China said it would not stand for violations of its territorial waters in the name of freedom of navigation.
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Comments (32) Closed
Oct 14, 2015 02:37pm
China will be a super power when it will develop and standardise new ideas and practices based on its own genuine research. Developing military abilities can hardly make you a super power.
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Oct 14, 2015 02:46pm
Copy paste technology obtained from cyber attacks does not mean that China has the latest weapons.
In fact they are 50 years behind USA in tech. Google it.
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Oct 14, 2015 03:07pm
@ az - Nothing new! Same old way of the Chinese imbibing or buying-out old Soviet technologies / technologists and and adopting them to its requirements. Wiki says:
The Xian H-6 (Chinese: Hōng-6) is a license-built version of the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 twin-engine jet bomber, built for the Chinese Air Force. Delivery of the Tu-16 to China began in 1958, and the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) signed a license production agreement with the USSR to build the type in the late 1950s.
The first Chinese Tu-16, or H-6 as it was designated in Chinese service, flew in 1959. Production was performed by the plant at Xian, with at least 150 built into the 1990s. China is estimated to currently operate around 120 of the aircraft.
The latest version is the heavily redesigned air-launched cruise missile-carrying H-6K, which, according to US Defense Dept, will give the PLA a long range standoff offensive air capability with precision-guided munitions.
Same Old Wine...Chinese Sham!
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Oct 14, 2015 03:15pm
@oldest civilization
is that why the world flocks to manufacture their products in China? because the technology is old? They manufacture all the TV's, iphones, computers that the world uses. They are hardly behind the tech curve.
You are letting your perception of China cloud your judgement.
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Oct 14, 2015 03:23pm
The last war that china fought and won was against India. Is this a message to India?
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Oct 14, 2015 03:24pm
Indians should not feel insecure reading this article.
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Oct 14, 2015 03:44pm
@Akram Someone has research on them. Now cost of making that thing is less in china also infrastructure is good pro business govt. no one can demostarte against govt. that is why everything assemble or produce in china
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Oct 14, 2015 04:04pm
China is already flabbergasted by massive exercise being held in Indian Ocean known as operation Malabar exercise by india USA and Japan this month involving uss Washington,nuclear submarines several aircraft carriers of these three countries which is a direct warning to China.
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Oct 14, 2015 04:25pm
Good for China... every country has right to defend itself and as China is not spending large % of its GDP on arms/defense, she will be fine.
As far as technology goes, there is always some bit of stolen/borrowed technology in all that we see today.
But the real challenge for China is not external, but internal... when the current generation that is growing up on wealth and technology starts asking for freedom of expression and democracy.
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Oct 14, 2015 04:36pm
@Taimoor Khan >>
It was not a war. It was just a breach by Chinese. India was not prepared for war even remotely. It was just landed on them by Chinese to show other neighbouring countries to show their strength and power.
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Oct 14, 2015 06:31pm
I love the way this article has made most of the Indian readers insecure don't hate at least China copies technology you guys just buy it 10 times the price so is it better to copy it or pay 10 times the price? That's if you say they're copying...
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Oct 14, 2015 06:54pm
@Pakistani first think about yourself
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Oct 14, 2015 07:13pm
First time in recent history a true strategic balance will be restored. China picked up where Soviet union failed. First become an economic power and later military power. Bi polar world is need of the hour. World can't afford to have only one bully.
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Oct 14, 2015 07:27pm
Nervous muscle flexing by China in response to US-India-Japan naval exercise Malabar currently underway.
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Oct 14, 2015 08:03pm
China is increasingly being seen as the regional bully by its neighbors in the South China sea region and else where. China's intense desire to expand its territory is making several enemies in the region.
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Oct 14, 2015 08:07pm
China is feared to see how India, Japan, USA and Australia are doing massive military exercise together... that's why China is forced to invest in India... the day will come soon when China can't stand in front of India....mark my word
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Oct 14, 2015 08:27pm
@Sunill punditt And India should get ready for a veto on UNSC seat!
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Oct 14, 2015 08:53pm
@Saani
One thing India should learn from Pakistan is American is not a reliable partner.
Pakistan and American have been one of the closest allies since 1948, it walked away after Afghan war and fall of Soviet Union. America looks at its strategic interest, and if it strategic interest changes, so does America. With Chinese getting closer to American defense capabilities, American strategic interest are likely to change, down the road. And, India may not bee part of the deal. It is just a matter of time.
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Oct 14, 2015 09:09pm
@sana-2 Don't worry, under Modi, if India doesnt get a perm seat with veto power, he will soon make the UN an irrelevant body and work on creating a new and modern replacement for UN. Just give him some more time and you will see it. you will remember this comment at that time.
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Oct 14, 2015 09:22pm
@Akram - Agreed but technology comes from Japan and US... China Manufacture as labor is cheap... But yes China has progressed very well... and its true but US is still far for now.
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Oct 14, 2015 09:26pm
@indian army
China isn't forced to invest in India. Its their bilateral trade and both benefit.
Don't forget joint exercises by Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan either.
My opinion is this show of strength is aimed at US and not India and think its better to have a bi-polar world, it benefits most around the globe
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Oct 14, 2015 10:27pm
Long range detection of target is a first rule , secondly not getting detected in that process is more important , missiles like AWACS killer with range of 600 km exist with su 30 mki , which can be fired at 100000 feet altitude and travel at mach 4 downwards, so even 1000 km is no standoff range in today's time when you get detected at 1600 km by AWACS and can be shot down at with a su 30 Mki with full afterburner at mach 2.25 heading directly towards target for a virtual radar merge by the time the bomber reaches 1000 km detection distance by AWACS as by then the su 30 mki has covered nearly 600 km on full after burners .flying ducks don't fight wars anymore.
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Oct 14, 2015 10:35pm
@goodDeedsLeadTo - Good observation. That's the reason you will not find India in in a single camp. You have to do business with all and manage multi-polar relationship. India will be ok. You saw the Iran oil example where India went against US. Pakistan should do that sometime
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Oct 14, 2015 10:37pm
China on rise with no military conflict in world, no bullying with weak nations and with excellent relations with neighbors. All are the signs of superpower.
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Oct 14, 2015 11:01pm
This H-6K is nothing more than a souped up version of a very old Soviet bomber plane from the early 60s called the "Bear". This new aircraft may have state of the art electronics and weapon systems but these are based on an old and outdated base. Nevertheless kudos to the Chinese for trying.
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Oct 14, 2015 11:06pm
@Sunill punditt not really, in 2 months, Russia, China and Pakistan have planned naval exercises first in pacific then Asian ocean.
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Oct 14, 2015 11:16pm
@Shafi Dont take it too far man, come on earth and face the reality! First of all make yourself a regional power and superpower then talk about making UN and irrelevant body or whatever...
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Oct 14, 2015 11:19pm
@subh
China and Pakistan have proved each other since 1948 to be all weather friends.
At the same time, Pakistan has not cut off with Americans, go for various levels of advanced training to US, buy defense electronics and equipment from the west including America.
But, no longer trust America as an all weather friend.
So, mind it, Pakistan has learned its lesson.
India is new in American camp, and is likely to find it self, America is not a reliable partner based on their strategic interest.
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Oct 14, 2015 11:23pm
@goodDeedsLeadTo Very nice observation...
As a matter of fact this is how relations between countries are made, we tend to personify it thinking we helped you then, why are you not helping us now???
But actually when we help any third country that is also to meet certain goal.
For example in 1971 war USSR supported India and in return India moved away from Non aligned to Soviet backed world.Thus there interest was fulfilled.
Coming to present, Usa and India never shared healthy relationship until 1990s.
However later on when our strategic interests began to intermingle into one our closeness also began to increase. The day India thinks USA if of negative utility or USA thinks so about India, both the countries will ditch each other.
So please don't personify relation between countries. The relation between countries are made by government, and governments are answerable to people(Democracy), so all relations are guided by self interest
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Oct 15, 2015 04:08am
@bkt Sir, Bear is TU 95 series of aircrafts.
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Oct 15, 2015 08:33am
Folks... no worries.. Recently India and China too conducted joint military exercises. I didn't see that news highlighted in Pak media. India emerged as the only country who does military exercises with most of countries except Pakishan.
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Oct 15, 2015 08:34am
Folks... no worries.. Recently India and China too conducted joint military exercises. I didn't see that news highlighted in Pak media. India emerged as the only country who does military exercises with most of countries except Pakishan.
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