Chinese Navy H-6J bomber aircraft with YJ-12 anti-ship missiles is a threat to US Navy ships

In July 2020, it was announced that the Chinese Navy has deployed its latest long-range bomber aircraft called H-6J, which is based on the Soviet-made Tupolev Tu-16 twin-engine jet bomber, and built under license in China by the company Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation. Recent pictures released on the Chinese TV CCTV showed that the H-6J is able to carry YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missiles.
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Chinese Navy H-6J long-range bomber aircraft armed with HJ-12 anti-ship missile. (Picture source CCTV China print screen)

The H-6J is in service with the Chinese Navy and it's the naval version of the H-6K bomber aircraft, the latest variant in the H-6 family of strategic bomber aircraft manufactured by the Chinese company Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation. It has the capability to conduct all-weather combat missions and is also capable of accurately attacking moving maritime targets

The H-6K is re-engined with D-30KP turbofan engines of 12,000 kg thrust replacing the original Chinese turbojets. Other modifications include larger air intakes, a redesigned flight deck with smaller/fewer transparencies, and a large dielectric nose radome.

The H-6J will replace the H-6G offering more payload and range with performance similar to H-6K. According to Chinese military sources, the H-6J is able to carry seven YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, with six under the wings and one in the weapon bay.

Citing the "The Diplomat" website, the upgrade to the H-6J variant entailed fitting the aircraft with completely new airframes, lighter weight composites, new fuel-efficient D-30-KP2 turbofans, advanced avionics, and a full glass cockpit. The bomber also has been fitted with a new long-range surface search radar and an electro-optical targeting pod for target acquisition.

The YJ-12 is an air-launched, anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) and is considered by the U.S. Naval Forces as one of the most dangerous anti-ship missiles produced by the Chinese defense industry. The missile has a maximum firing range of 400 km and can reach a speed of up to Mach 3, and is capable of performing air-borne evasive maneuvers before hitting its target. The missile can be equipped with a nuclear or conventional warhead of 500 kg. The missile is fitted with an inertial and GPS guidance system and has an accuracy of 5-7 m CEP (Probable Circular Error).