15 December 2022

Record number of Chinese bombers appear in Taiwan ADIZ

by Akhil Kadidal

A majority of Chinaʼs largest H-6 bomber incursions into Taiwanʼs ADIZ are accompanied by a range of supporting aircraft such as fighter jets, electronic warfare, electronic intelligence, and AEW&C aircraft. (Janes)

China has sent a record number of heavy bombers into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

On 12 December, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that 29 Chinese military aircraft were monitored around Taiwan over a 24-hour period between 12 and 13 December. Of these, 21 aircraft entered the ADIZ, including 18 Xian Aircraft Company (XAC) H-6 bombers, according to Taiwan MND data.

This is the largest incursion of bombers recorded since Taiwan began to disclose details of ADIZ incursions from September 2020. The previous largest incursions comprised 12 H-6s, recorded on 4 October 2021.

The remaining three aircraft sent into the ADIZ on 12 December include a single Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-11 fighter and one XAC Y-8Q four-engined anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. The last was an XAC Y-9JB tactical reconnaissance aircraft.

According to the Taiwan MND, the bombers appeared at the southwest corner of the ADIZ, near Taiwan's Pratas Island. The Y-9JB, however, was monitored as it flew towards the area south of Taiwan island. The flightpathsof the Y-9JB and the Y-8 ASW aircraft wereapproximately 175–180 km northeast of the bombers.

Janes assesses that the Y-9JB was being employed to analyse Taiwan's response to the bomber force.

The Y-9JB uses electronics to analyse the reconnaissance area. According to Janes data, the aircraft is thought to be equipped with a KZ800 electronic intelligence (ELINT) system with a frequency coverage range of 1–18 GHzand 1–40 GHz. According to US Air Force's China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), the system has a range of 300 km. Janes

China has sent a record number of heavy bombers into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ)...

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