What missions will China and Russia perform for the third joint air strategic cruise? Expert interpretation

　　On November 25, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense Wu Qian said that the relationship between the Chinese and Russian armed forces is not the best, only better; there is no end to Sino-Russian military cooperation, only marches.

Wu Qian also talked about the 2021 joint strategic air cruise between the Chinese and Russian militaries held this month. This cruise is also the third time that China and Russia have conducted a joint strategic air cruise.

Poke the video to review this joint aerial strategic cruise ↓

The Chinese H-6K and the Russian Tu-95MC formed a joint formation

　　On November 19, the Chinese and Russian Ministry of National Defense announced at the same time that the Chinese Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Forces organized and implemented a joint strategic air cruise in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Chinese side sent two H-6K bombers and the Russian side two Tu-95MC bombers to form a joint formation and conducted joint cruises in the relevant airspace of the Sea of ​​Japan and the East China Sea.

The Russian Aerospace Forces sent a fighter formation composed of Su-35 to escort the bombers. At the same time, it also sent an A-50U early warning aircraft to command each fighter in the air.

Over the East China Sea, the Chinese Air Force also dispatched Su-30 fighters to escort the cruise formation.

　　The joint air strategic cruise has a range of approximately 2,000 kilometers and lasted more than 10 hours.

Both the Chinese and Russian military said that they strictly abide by international conventions and common practices during the flight and did not enter the airspace of other countries.

What is the content of the strategic cruise?

What tasks are performed?

　　This strategic cruise is the third joint air strategic cruise carried out by the Chinese and Russian armed forces. It is also a project in the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian armed forces and is not targeted at third parties.

So what is the content of the joint air strategic cruise, and which tasks are mainly performed?

Military expert Wang Mingliang:

Air strategic patrol is a way for major powers to use air power after the end of World War II.

It mainly uses long-range bombers for large-range and large-area flights.

Generally, international airspace is selected for a relatively long flight to show its existence.

Its mission, one with

, is my pilot be familiar route, familiar with future emission array bit of communication, navigation and security, and other things to operate a series of training.

The second is

.

Third, it has another task, that is, if some conflicts with related potential opponents are particularly rigid or even intensified, it is also

a means to

.

Why choose H-6K and Tu-95MC to perform tasks?

　　In this Sino-Russian joint air strategic cruise, China sent two H-6K bombers and Russia sent two Tu-95MC.

So, why choose these two fighters to perform cruise missions?

Military expert Wang Mingliang:

H-6K and Tu-95MC have common characteristics.

, which are the protagonists of what we call strategic cruises. They are long-range bombers that carry a relatively large amount of bombs and can carry out long-range strikes.

.

Tu-95 has a range of more than 10,000 kilometers, which is very impressive.

And now it can carry cruise missiles with a range of two to three thousand kilometers.

The H-6K is the long-range strike weapon with the largest range of our national air force at this stage, and it can fly farther.

So the choice of these two aircraft is such a consideration.

Why are the three cruises in the relevant airspace of the Sea of ​​Japan and the East China Sea?

　　In addition to this joint air cruise, the Chinese and Russian armed forces have also organized and implemented two joint air strategic cruises in July 2019 and December 2020.

The areas covered by the three joint patrols are all in the airspace of the Sea of ​​Japan and the East China Sea. Why is this?

Military expert Wang Mingliang:

Actually,

.

Northeast Asia is a very important and special area in the entire Western Pacific region.

There are more than three, the

there are more

The strongest economies in Asia are all in Northeast Asia, including China, Japan, and South Korea.

Although Russia is not an Asian country, a large part of it is also in the Far East.

.

The military strength of these countries is well-known in Asia.

There is also the United States stationed here, and the main bases of the United States in the Western Pacific are all concentrated here.

.

The conflict between Japan and South Korea, the northern territories dispute between Japan and Russia, the Diaoyu Islands dispute between us and Japan, the North-South dispute on the Korean Peninsula, and the immediate Taiwan issue.

Therefore, this place is a very important block that affects the security and stability of the Western Pacific region.

Military expert Wang Mingliang: It

can be said that Northeast Asia is unstable, Asia is unstable, and the world may be in chaos.

So this is an area of ​​interest of common concern for China and Russia.

So I think the combined cycle operation also has such a strategic consideration in it.

In October this year, China and Russia held a joint maritime cruise for the first time

　　Less than a month before the 2021 joint air strategic cruise of the Chinese and Russian militaries, China and Russia had just held their first joint maritime cruise.

Poke the video to find out ↓↓↓

　　From October 14th to 17th local time, the Sino-Russian "Sea Joint-2021" military exercise was held in the sea and airspace near Peter the Great Bay in Russia.

After the exercise, the two sides formed a joint formation and launched the first joint maritime cruise.

A total of 10 ships from China and Russia participated in this joint cruise, including the new guided-missile destroyer Nanchang, which was newly listed by my country last year.

The Sino-Russian naval fleet departed from the Peter the Great Bay, crossed the Sea of ​​Japan, entered the Western Pacific via the Tsugaru Strait, and reached the East China Sea after crossing the Osumi Strait.

During the joint cruise, China and Russia organized exercises such as joint sailing, joint maneuvering, and actual use of weapons.

On October 23, the joint cruise ended successfully.

Sino-Russian military cooperation creates a new mode of international security cooperation

　　On November 23, the defense ministers of China and Russia held a video call. In addition to summarizing this year’s Sino-Russian joint naval and air patrol, they also mentioned that they will continue to strengthen cooperation in such areas as joint patrols, which is important for the relations between the Chinese and Russian armed forces. What is the significance of the regional security situation?

Military expert Wang Mingliang:

This is the third dialogue between the defense ministers of the two countries since July.

The first two interviews, this time it was a video.

All the top leaders of our navy and air force participated in this meeting. Obviously, they talked more deeply on the topic of cruise.

From a broad perspective, it reflects a deepening and refinement of the Sino-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership and coordination.

But both of us also made it clear that we are not a military alliance. I think this is a very new model of security cooperation.

Then this model, the establishment of such a cooperation method between the two big powers that not only cooperates but also maintains their independence, is for the kind of bundled military group that is prevalent in the world now, and it is like a boss. It will form a very effective check and balance, and it is also creating a new model of international security cooperation.

Then I think there is such a pattern in Northeast Asia, which is obviously very useful for stabilizing the situation in the region.

At the same time, this model may also be extended to other areas.