Xian H-6

Xian H-6
H-6 at the Zhuhai Air Show in 2008
Role Strategic bomber
Manufacturer Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation
First flight 1959[1]
Retired Iraq (1991)
Egypt (2000)
Status Active service with the PLAAF
Primary users People's Liberation Army Air Force
People's Liberation Army Navy
Egyptian Air Force (historical)
Iraqi Air Force (historical)
Number built 162–180[1]
Developed from Tupolev Tu-16

The Xian H-6 (Chinese: 轰-6; pinyin: Hōng-6) is a licence-built[1] version of the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 twin-engine jet bomber, built for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force.

Delivery of the Tu-16 to China began in 1958, and the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) signed a licence production agreement with the USSR to build the type in the late 1950s. The first Chinese Tu-16, or "H-6" as it was designated in Chinese service, flew in 1959. Production was performed by the plant at Xian, with at least 150 built into the 1990s. China is estimated to currently operate around 120 of the aircraft.[2]

The latest version is the H-6K, a heavily redesigned version capable of carrying air-launched cruise missiles. According to United States Department of Defense, this will give the PLAAF a long range standoff offensive air capability with precision-guided munitions.[3]

Design and development

H-6 flying over Changzhou

The first domestically produced H-6 was completed in 1968[2] and evidence of bombing training was recorded by U.S. spy satellites on August 13, 1971.[2] By March of the following year, the CIA estimated that the PRC had 32 aircraft operational with an additional 19 awaiting completion.[2]

The H-6 was used to drop nine nuclear devices at the Lop Nur test site. However, with the increased development in ballistic missile technology, the nuclear delivery capabilities that the H-6 offered diminished in importance. The CIA estimated in 1976 that the H-6 had moved over to a dual nuclear/conventional bombing role.

Developed versions

Along with the H-6 free-fall bomber, an "H-6A" nuclear bomber was built, as well as an "H-6B" reconnaissance variant, "H-6C" conventional bomber and "H-6E" nuclear bomber with improved countermeasures, and the "H-6D" antiship missile carrier. The H-6D was introduced in the early 1980s and carried a C-601 antishipping missile (NATO codename "Silkworm", an air-launched derivative of the Soviet P-15 Termit ("Styx") under each wing. The H-6D featured various modernized systems and sports an enlarged radome with a Type 245 Kobalt I-band surveillance radar under the nose. The Type 245 radar was based on the Soviet PSBN-M-8 NATO codename Mushroom radar used on the Tupolev Tu-16. Earlier versions (Type 241, 242 and 244) were installed on the early models of the H-6. The H-6 has also been used as a tanker and drone launcher. Later H-6 production featured extended curved wingtips.[1]

Many H-6A and H-6C aircraft were updated in the 1990s to the "H-6F" configuration, the main improvement being a modern navigation system, with a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation receiver, Doppler navigation radar, and inertial navigation system. New production began in the 1990s as well, with Xian building the "H-6G", which is a director for ground-launched cruise missiles; the "H-6H", which carries two land-attack cruise missiles. In terms of land attack cruise missiles five immediate possibilities were considered by PLAAF - the indigenous HN-1, HN-2 and HN-3, a cloned Tomahawk widely reported, likely to be the DH-10/CJ-10, and a variant of Russian designed cruise missile. It is believed CJ-10 is chosen to be the main land attack missile for H-6 bombers,[4] and now the "H-6M" cruise missile carrier, which has four pylons for improved cruise missiles and is fitted with a terrain-following system. Apparently these variants have no internal bomb capability, and most or all of their defensive armament has been deleted.

H-6K

H-6K in flight in 2015

The H-6K, first flying on 5 January 2007,[5] entered service in October 2009 during the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China,[6] and is claimed to make China the fourth country with a strategic bomber after US, Russia and the United Kingdom.[6][7] With a reinforced structure making use of composite materials,[7] enlarged engine inlets for Russian Soloviev D-30 turbofan engines giving a claimed combat radius of 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi),[6] a glass cockpit with large size LCD multi-function display,[8] and a reworked nose section eliminating the glazed navigator's station in favour of a more powerful radar, the H-6K is a significantly more modern aircraft than earlier versions. The bomb bay has been replaced by extra fuel capacity, and six underwing pylons for CJ-10A cruise missiles. The rear 23 mm guns and gunner position are replaced by electronic components.[8]

The H-6K is designed for long-range attacks and stand-off attacks. It is considered as a strategic bomber. It is capable of attacking US carrier battle groups and priority targets in Asia. This aircraft has nuclear strike capability.[9] While previous models had limited missile capacity (the H-6G could only carry two YJ-12 anti-ship missiles and the H-6M two KD-20/CJ-10K/CJ-20 land attack cruise missiles), the H-6K can carry up to six YJ-12 and 6-7 LACMs; a single regiment of 18 H-6Ks fully loaded out with YJ-12s can saturate enemy ships with over 100 supersonic missiles. Although the aircraft has a new nose radome housing a modern air-to-ground radar, it is not clear if the bomber or other Chinese assets yet have the capability to collect accurate targeting information for successful strikes against point targets in areas beyond the first island chain.[10][11][12]

In January 2009, it was reported that an indigenous turbofan engine, the WS-18, was under development for use in the H-6K.[13]

In 2015, about 15 H-6Ks were in service.[14]

Variants

Xian H-6 bombers at the Chinese Aviation Museum in Beijing
PLAAF Xian H-6

Production versions

Later upgraded to either two C-301 supersonic anti-ship missiles, or four C-101 supersonic anti-ship missiles. An upgraded version, capable of carrying four YJ-8 (C-801) anti-ship missiles is currently under development.[5] Initially designated H-6IV.

Aerial refuelling versions

Under-wing aerial refuelling pods fitted to the HY-6U tanker variant.

Export versions

Testbeds, prototypes and proposed variants

Operators

Map with Xian H-6 operators in blue with former operators in red

Current operators

 People's Republic of China

Former operators

 Egypt
Iraq

Specifications (H-6)

Line drawing of a H-6 with wing-tip extension
KH-11 image of a Xian H-6

Data from Sinodefence.com[5]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Reconnaissance & Special-Mission Tu-16s / Xian H-6". Air Vector. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chinese Nuclear Forces and US Nuclear War Planning (PDF), The Federation of American Scientists & The Natural Resources Defense Council, 2006, pp. 93–4.
  3. http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2015_China_Military_Power_Report.pdf
  4. "H-6H Cuirse Missile Bomber PLAAF". AirForceWorld.com. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "H-6 Medium Bomber". Sinodefence.com. 2005-11-26. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
  6. 1 2 3 Kashin, Vasiliy (2009-12-11). "Strategic Cruise Missile Carrier H-6K – A New Era for Chinese Air Force". Moscow Defense Brief. Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. 4 (18). Archived from the original on December 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
  7. 1 2 Chang, Andrei (2007-11-08). "Analysis: China attains nuclear strategic strike capability". United Press International. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
  8. 1 2 "H-6K Cruise Missile Bomber PLAAF". AirForceWorld.com. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  9. http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/h6k.htm
  10. Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer, "China Shows Off Its Deadly New Cruise Missiles", Popular Science, 10 March 2015
  11. The H-6K Is China’s B-52 - Warisboring.com, 8 July 2015
  12. Fisher, Richard D., Jr. (4 September 2015). "China showcases new weapon systems at 3 September parade". IHS Jane's 360.
  13. China is developing WS-18 for H-6K Bomber
  14. http://thediplomat.com/2015/07/china-wants-to-develop-a-new-long-range-strategic-bomber/
  15. Isby, David C. (2006-09-29). "Chinese H-6 bomber carries 'improved missiles'". Jane's Missiles and Rockets. Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 2006-11-30. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
  16. "H-6 Tanker". Sinodefence.com. 2006-05-27. Archived from the original on January 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
  17. IISS 2010: 404
  18. IISS 2010: 402
Bibliography
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