On 9 December, the Chinese Armed Forces and the Russian Ministry of Defence released videos documenting another joint air patrol with the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Asia-Pacific region.
The footage offers a rare look at the formation of a mixed air group and highlights the employment of the direct descendant of the legendary Soviet Tu-16 bomber.
+ Click here to watch the video
On the Chinese side, the mission featured the long-range Xian H-6K, a licensed and deeply modernised version of the Tu-16 operated by the PLA Air Force’s 22nd Bomber Regiment. Russia deployed the strategic Tu-95MS, a platform dedicated to launching cruise missiles and a symbol of Russian aerial deterrence.
The mission was further supported by a strong fighter escort: Shenyang J-16 and J-11BS fighters provided Chinese cover, while Russian Aerospace Forces’ Su-30SM jets accompanied the formation.
Surveillance and real-time command were provided by a KJ-500 airborne early-warning aircraft, responsible for monitoring the air situation across the entire operational area.
During certain phases of the route, the strategic bombers were shadowed by fighters from foreign states.
According to South Korean authorities, nine Chinese and Russian aircraft – two from China and seven from Russia – entered South Korea’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) to the east and south of the peninsula. Seoul stated that its fighters were scrambled, but no violation of sovereign airspace occurred. Such events are recurring: similar overflights have been registered once or twice a year since 2019.
Sino-Russian patrols have become a regular practice, symbolising deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing and demonstrating a high level of operational readiness.
On other occasions, joint long-range flights have also been observed near Alaska, where they were intercepted by NORAD aircraft.
+ Video: Russia Receives New Mi-8MTV-1 Helicopters for Operations in the Far North and Far East
+ Video: UAC delivers new batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers to the Russian Aerospace Forces
Source and Images: PLA Air Force | Telegram @mod_russia | Japan Self-Defense Forces. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
