Image: from International Defence Analysis X @Defence_IDA
By Open Chronicle with agencies
China has offered one of its clearest public glimpses yet into its evolving long-range strike capabilities, with a new documentary produced by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) showing an H-6N strategic bomber carrying a large missile beneath its fuselage while being escorted by J-20 stealth fighters during a simulated joint operations exercise.
The footage, broadcast in the final episode of the Zhisheng (Victory) documentary series by Chinese state television, highlights Beijing’s increasing emphasis on integrated, multi-domain warfare and the growing role of coordinated air, naval and missile forces in future high-intensity conflicts.
China reveals the H-6N bomber carrying the “Jinglei-1” missile for the first time, with a strike range that could exceed 10,000 kilometers. pic.twitter.com/qYu1x0f0Ws
— China pulse 🇨🇳 (@Eng_china5) August 4, 2026
A new missile draws attention
The documentary features the H-6N carrying a single large missile mounted under its fuselage rather than the smaller cruise missiles traditionally carried beneath its wings.
Although Chinese authorities did not identify the weapon, military analysts believe it could represent one of China’s most advanced air-launched ballistic missiles.
According to Wang Yanan, editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, the missile appears capable of conducting both anti-ship and ground-strike missions.
Some Chinese media outlets suggested the weapon could be the JL-1 air-launched long-range missile, first publicly displayed during China’s 2025 Victory Day military parade. However, experts caution that the available footage is too limited to confirm the missile’s exact identity.
Simulated strike against a naval task force
The documentary presents a scenario involving the detection of a large surface fleet operating southeast of China.
According to the exercise, unmanned aerial vehicles were rapidly deployed to locate and continuously track the formation while real-time targeting information was transmitted to multiple strike platforms.
The scenario also featured a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer launching what Chinese media identified as YJ-20 hypersonic missiles, alongside preparations involving DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles, often referred to as “carrier killers” because of their intended role against large naval vessels.
Chinese media indicated that the simulated operation was designed to practise coordinated strikes against an aircraft carrier battle group.
Joint operations at the centre of modern warfare
Rather than focusing solely on individual weapons, the documentary emphasises China’s growing commitment to networked joint operations.
Naval vessels are presented as intelligence, communications and firepower nodes operating within a wider combat system, while aircraft, drones and missile units share targeting data to enable coordinated attacks across multiple domains.
The documentary argues that future conflicts will be determined not simply by superior weapons but by the ability to integrate every military platform into a unified operational network.
J-20 protects the bomber
The appearance of J-20 stealth fighters escorting the H-6N also attracted considerable attention.
Unlike the stealthy fifth-generation fighters, the H-6N bomber has a large radar signature and would be vulnerable to interception during long-range missions.
According to Wang Yanan, the J-20 would serve as an airborne protective shield, intercepting hostile aircraft and long-range missiles while allowing the bomber to approach its launch area with greater survivability.
In an operational environment, the bomber would likely receive additional protection from surface warships, land-based missile systems, airborne early warning aircraft and other supporting assets operating as part of China’s integrated combat network.
Strategic implications
The documentary provides another indication of Beijing’s continued investment in long-range precision strike capabilities.
Air-launched ballistic missiles offer significant operational advantages over ground-launched systems because aircraft can change launch positions rapidly, making attacks more difficult to predict and intercept.
Combined with China’s expanding inventory of hypersonic weapons, advanced missile systems and fifth-generation aircraft, the development reflects the PLA’s broader effort to strengthen its ability to conduct long-range precision strikes against high-value military targets.
Although the exact capabilities of the missile shown remain unconfirmed, the footage illustrates China’s continued emphasis on integrated joint warfare and advanced long-range strike systems as central components of its future military strategy.