H-6 Bomber Aircraft Discussions
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Those are more likely YJ-91 missiles. Which can be easily mistook for the YJ-12 dues to their external similarities (air intake positions) but the size gives them away.
And, I believe you are correct in that observation!
Hendrik_2000
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Via JSCh. Shoot and scud
China's H-6K bomber expected to be armed with hypersonic weapons
By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2019/8/6 15:51:59
An H-6K bomber takes off from a military airfield. Twelve H-6K bombers assigned to a division of the PLA Air Force conducted a long haul flight from the hinterland of China's central Shaanxi Plain to a certain area to carry out military training, according to the official social media account of the Chinese PLA Air Force on the Sina Weibo, March 27, 2018. Photo: eng.chinamil.com.cn
The main mission objective of China's H-6K bomber is to strike key strategic points deep within enemy territories, the state broadcaster revealed, leading experts to predict that the warplane could eventually be armed with hypersonic weapons that can destroy hostile military hubs 3,000 kilometers away within minutes.
Together with J-20 stealth fighters, H-6Ks could devastate the enemy's fighting capability even before a war gets fully underway, analysts said.
"In a war, our main objective is to launch attacks on an enemy's deep and vital positions, paralyzing their facilities. This is what we especially excel at," said H-6K pilot Li Ping, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.
While the H-6K is not a stealth warplane, nor does it have outstanding speed to penetrate deep into hostile territory, it is equipped with very advanced weapons including air-launched cruise missiles, enabling it to attack targets far away, Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
"The H-6K can remain within a safe zone, launch its missiles that can reach targets 2,000 kilometers away," Wang said, noting that these missiles are difficult to intercept due to their stealth capabilities.
"With China developing hypersonic weapons [missiles that fly at least five times the speed of sound] in recent years, its attack range and speed could become even greater than a conventional cruise missile, potentially capable of taking out targets deep within hostile territories 3,000 kilometers away within just a few minutes," Wang predicted.
Assuming each H-6K can carry six missiles, 10 bombers can attack as many as 60 vital military hubs, which could destroy the enemy, he said.
CCTV also reported that the Air Force's J-20 fighter jets have been conducting full-scale, beyond-visual-range aerial combat exercises.
The J-20 could partner with the H-6K and clear the sky by shooting down hostile aerial hubs such as early warning aircraft and tanker aircraft, while the H-6K will scorch land hubs such as command centers and missile positions, according to Wang.
The H-6Ks are undergoing frequent training under combat scenarios together with early warning aircraft and fighter jets, CCTV reported.
In 2018, the munitions the H-6Ks used in exercises were multiple times greater than in past years, the report said.
China's H-6K bomber expected to be armed with hypersonic weapons
By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2019/8/6 15:51:59
An H-6K bomber takes off from a military airfield. Twelve H-6K bombers assigned to a division of the PLA Air Force conducted a long haul flight from the hinterland of China's central Shaanxi Plain to a certain area to carry out military training, according to the official social media account of the Chinese PLA Air Force on the Sina Weibo, March 27, 2018. Photo: eng.chinamil.com.cn
The main mission objective of China's H-6K bomber is to strike key strategic points deep within enemy territories, the state broadcaster revealed, leading experts to predict that the warplane could eventually be armed with hypersonic weapons that can destroy hostile military hubs 3,000 kilometers away within minutes.
Together with J-20 stealth fighters, H-6Ks could devastate the enemy's fighting capability even before a war gets fully underway, analysts said.
"In a war, our main objective is to launch attacks on an enemy's deep and vital positions, paralyzing their facilities. This is what we especially excel at," said H-6K pilot Li Ping, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.
While the H-6K is not a stealth warplane, nor does it have outstanding speed to penetrate deep into hostile territory, it is equipped with very advanced weapons including air-launched cruise missiles, enabling it to attack targets far away, Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
"The H-6K can remain within a safe zone, launch its missiles that can reach targets 2,000 kilometers away," Wang said, noting that these missiles are difficult to intercept due to their stealth capabilities.
"With China developing hypersonic weapons [missiles that fly at least five times the speed of sound] in recent years, its attack range and speed could become even greater than a conventional cruise missile, potentially capable of taking out targets deep within hostile territories 3,000 kilometers away within just a few minutes," Wang predicted.
Assuming each H-6K can carry six missiles, 10 bombers can attack as many as 60 vital military hubs, which could destroy the enemy, he said.
CCTV also reported that the Air Force's J-20 fighter jets have been conducting full-scale, beyond-visual-range aerial combat exercises.
The J-20 could partner with the H-6K and clear the sky by shooting down hostile aerial hubs such as early warning aircraft and tanker aircraft, while the H-6K will scorch land hubs such as command centers and missile positions, according to Wang.
The H-6Ks are undergoing frequent training under combat scenarios together with early warning aircraft and fighter jets, CCTV reported.
In 2018, the munitions the H-6Ks used in exercises were multiple times greater than in past years, the report said.
There are some rumours around stating, that the PLAAF will unveil on the October parade for the first time a new type, so far not known by clear images and it seems as if this is the IFR-capable H-6 variant featuring improved systems and being able to launch a half-buried BAShM.
@Deino how many H-6Ks are thought to be in production use now.
Back in 2015 they talked about 20 or so, but I have to believe A LOT more are in use now with both the PLAAF and the PLAN.
Do you have any rough numbers?
Very beautiful aircraft. Well done for the PRC in taking an old TU-16 and coming out with a new build, essentially a new aircraft with so much decent capability.First three images are from Aviadarts 2019. The last two are H-6s practicing for the upcoming national day parade. All images are high-resolution.
The US has done a similar thing to the B-52, and they have continually, with new materials, have updated and strengthened the B-52s to get more years out of them, and added new electronics, wiring, and new weapons...but they have not redesigned the aircraft to make it a new version.
It could probably be said that they didn't have to...but these H-6Ks may well be flying after the B-52s are finally retired when the B-21 comes out in the 2020a.
