| Xi'an H-6 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Xi'an H-6K | |
| Role | Strategic bomber |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation |
| First flight | 1959[1] |
| Introduction | 1969[2] |
| Retired | 1991 (Iraq) 2000 (Egypt) |
| Status | In service; in production |
| Primary users | People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Navy Egyptian Air Force (historical) Iraqi Air Force (historical) |
| Number built | 231+ As of 2020[3][4] |
| Developed from | Tupolev Tu-16 |
| Variants | Xi'an H-6I |
The Xi'an H-6 (Chinese: 轰-6; pinyin: Hōng-6)[a] is a twin-engine jet bomber of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The H-6 is a license-built version of the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 and remains the primary bomber aircraft of the People's Republic of China.
Delivery of the Tu-16 to China began in 1958, and a license production agreement with the Soviets was signed in the late 1950s. By November 2020, the PLAAF had as many as 231, and continued to build the aircraft.[1][3]
The latest variant of the H-6 is the H-6N, a heavily redesigned version capable of aerial refueling and carrying air-launched cruise missiles. According to the United States Department of Defense, this will give the PLAAF a long-range standoff offensive air capability with precision-guided munitions.[5][6]
- ^ a b "Reconnaissance & Special-Mission Tu-16s / Xian H-6". Air Vector. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ Aviation Museum, Northwestern Polytechnical University. "馆藏飞机介绍：轰-6-航空学院". hangkong.nwpu.edu.cn. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ a b Axe, David (16 November 2020). "The Chinese Air Force Sure Is Buying A Lot Of Bombers". Forbes.
- ^ IISS 2010: 402
- ^ "Annual Report to Congress - Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2015" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ "China shows off H-6N, hypersonics, and gyrocopters". Flight Global.
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