PLA's airborne nuclear strike system shown

The Chinese military has, for the first time, publicly showcased the operation of its airborne nuclear strike system.

In a video jointly released on Tuesday by the Central Military Commission's Political Work Department, the Cyberspace Administration of China and China Media Group, a H-6N strategic bomber is seen flying alongside two J-20 stealth fighter jets while carrying what appears to be a JL-1 nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile beneath its fuselage.

The footage marks the first time that the People's Liberation Army has publicly demonstrated its airborne nuclear strike capability, the final component of its nuclear triad.

The military has not released further details about the operation, including when it took place or the name of the exercise in which the aircraft and missile were involved. Given the sensitivity of the strategic weapon system, the PLA is unlikely to disclose additional information.

The footage forms part of a simulated combat scenario in which a joint command headquarters orders a coordinated strike against an enemy fleet.

Other advanced PLA weapon systems featured in the same sequence include the DF-21D road-mobile antiship ballistic missile system, the YJ-20 ship-borne hypersonic anti-ship missile and the YJ-12 air-launched supersonic anti-ship missile.

The JL-1 air-launched long-range ballistic missile was declassified and displayed to the public during a military parade in Beijing last September, alongside other strategic nuclear missile systems, including the DF-31BJ, DF-61 and DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The "JL" in the missile's name stands for "Jinglei", or "Shocking Thunderclap".

The parade also marked the first time the Chinese military publicly revealed the PLA Air Force's nuclear strike platform. Previously, the PLA Air Force lacked an operational air-based platform capable of delivering nuclear warheads, leaving what military observers described as the missing component of China's nuclear deterrent.

According to estimates by Western military observers, the JL-1 has a range of about 8,000 kilometers. Because it is air-launched, the missile can take advantage of the altitude and speed of its carrier aircraft, enabling it to reach targets beyond 8,000 km compared with ground — or sea-launched missiles of similar aerodynamic design and propulsion.

The H-6N also has a long combat radius and can be refueled in flight. Combined with the JL-1, it provides the PLA Air Force with a long-range nuclear strike capability and serves as a powerful strategic deterrent.

Wu Peixin, a military affairs observer, said: "The H-6N bomber carrying the JL-1 missile can effectively strike distant ground and maritime targets. However, when the H-6N conducts forward combat missions, it requires long-range fighter escort. That is why it is seen flying in formation with two J-20 stealth fighter jets in the video."