Sputnik News
China is very secretive about its hypersonic weapons program, including those deployed with People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) troops. However, images and film shot by observers have given valuable insight into the systems, which form just part of the PLARF’s vast and unequaled arsenal.
New video emerged on social media on Wednesday of a Chinese Xi’an H-6N strategic bomber carrying a very large ballistic missile underneath its belly. The aircraft is a heavily modified version of the Soviet-built Tu-16 (NATO reporting name “Badger”), which the People’s Liberation Army has designed to carry ballistic missiles and extra-large cargo such as drones.
Observers were unable to positively identify the weapon, but speculated it could be related to the YJ-21 anti-ship missile, which was separately reported on Wednesday as being test-fired by a Type 055 guided-missile cruiser.
Such weapons have been dubbed “carrier killers” due to their long range, heavy striking power, and ability to evade US fleet defenses. China has developed a bevy of such weapons designed to keep US fleets well away from waters near the Chinese mainland, severely limiting the offensive potential of their aircraft.
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