I guess one potential benefit in using bomber aircraft to launch our ballistic missiles is preventing unintentionally triggering mutually assured destruction. Even with our no first use policy, America undoubtedly does not trust it fully. Launching dozens of ballistic missiles against naval vessels from land could be understood as too reckless by China, where launching them from bomber aircraft would cause less panic for the opponent in question and thus would not lead to a nuclear response immediately.
H-6 Bomber Aircraft Discussions
- Thread starter F40Racer
- Start date
Well, the original B-52 has evolved to fulfill roles it wasn't originally designed for either.
H-6 obviously carries only a fraction of what B-52 does, but H-6 is also only a fraction of the size and weight of a B-52.
With the H-6K/J/N, it seems like the PLA are quite content to carry stores externally even if it does effect flight performance. Going forwards I see a long future ahead for the H-6K family as new payloads are developed.
It will remain a potent regional strike platform with the ability to haul a larger payload than what any strike fighter in current inventory or foreseeable future inventory can carry. Even without stealth, it will remain a relevant capability for the PLA and its regional and strategic posture.
For true strategic bombing with longer range and larger payloads, H-20 will be needed, because for those kind of distances involved you'll probably want a much more survivable platform anyhow.
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Developing a larger bomber without sufficient survivability for high end missions would be a poor use of money, given the point of having a larger bomber is to travel further and deliver more payload. For the PLA, such a demand would only really be worth developing a brand new aircraft for if it's against a high end foe.
... so I would be very surprised if the PLA sought to develop a heavy strategic bomber that was different to H-20 (i.e.: lacking its survivability features)
If anything H-20 would be quite well suited for the PLA's overall strategic posture as well for long range regional/westpac missions.
Also, the H-6 platform doesn't really face "competition" from the Russian or US bombers, because China isn't able to procure those bombers anyhow.
What the H-6 platform competes with is the rest of the Chinese strike and bomber types, for the mission of conducting regional bombing and strike against opfor targets and environments.
No other Chinese combat aircraft has the payload and range profile of an aircraft with an MTOW of 80 tons and a payload of 9 tons.
Even when H-20 enters service, the operating cost of the H-6K family will likely be far lower than the H-20 and it will remain a useful platform for delivering payloads in lower end conflicts or more permissive environments, as well as carrying oversized unitary payloads which can't fit H-20's weapons bay.
So the fact that the H-6 platform is smaller or slower than a Tupolev 22M or 160 or a B-1 or B-52 doesn't really effect its value for the PLA.
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Stomping them when they're down is an underappreciated art, I find. I have a somewhat simplistic question: how exactly is the ballistic missile launched? Is it launched horizontally and then climb or keep flying within the atmosphere, or is it launched vertically - by the H-6N turning its nose up or through some parachute mechanism?
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Would probably work like a conventional missile. Drop from the bay into the air stream separate some distance ignition and boost into a ballistic climb.
the requirement to carry KS-1 appeared long before the plane was accepted into service.
We're talking early 1950s here. And tu-22m is something from the 1970s.
Why does the H-6 need any more growth potential?
It's cheap and has a large payload (for weapons and growth).
Plus it has enough range to fly over empty ocean to launch points for the 2nd Island Chain.
And importantly, it would remain under fighter/AWACs cover all the time, from Chinese mainland airbases.
Then there is the upcoming H-20 stealth bomber for risky missions and longer distance missions without fighter/AWACs cover.
Just because someone else has a larger non-stealth bomber, doesn't mean China needs one as well.
For a ballistic missile launched from an H-6N, I'm seeing a range estimate of 3400km+ below.
I'm guessing that is for a 15tonne DF-21D missile.
If that is accurate, then let's say an H-6N squadron operated at 1000km from the Chinese mainland (under fighter/AWACs cover).
That pushes the ASBM range to 4400km from the Chinese mainland.
Of course, targeting ships at that distance is another matter.
But slow supply ships are a much easier target than a CSG.
It's interesting to note that it brings the new US base in Darwin in Australia within range.
I'm guessing that is for a 15tonne DF-21D missile.
If that is accurate, then let's say an H-6N squadron operated at 1000km from the Chinese mainland (under fighter/AWACs cover).
That pushes the ASBM range to 4400km from the Chinese mainland.
Of course, targeting ships at that distance is another matter.
But slow supply ships are a much easier target than a CSG.
It's interesting to note that it brings the new US base in Darwin in Australia within range.
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These hi-res pictures are great, they allow us to see that the H-6s with refueling probes have a concave belly with different hatch arrangements to fit the ASBM and its stowed attachment mechanism. The H-6Ks without refueling probes have a smooth belly with normal bomb bay doors.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Maybe the H-6N was designed to carry something other than, or perhaps even in addition to, the air-launched ballistic missile:
