H-6 Bomber Aircraft Discussions
- Thread starter F40Racer
- Start date
Rarely have old H-6Hs of the Harbian FA been seen so clearly: Assigned to the Harbin Flying Academy, 2nd Training Brigade at Harbin/Lalin (?). Seen are the serial numbers: 1923, 1825, 1826, 1827 & 1928.
(via kcandrew/CDF)
(via kcandrew/CDF)
that's surprising as I think China needs at least 100 H-6N for ALBM and WZ-8 launching functions. so much potential in that plane to launch all kinds of stuff.
It is likely that the H-6N is just a stopgap measure for the PLAAF as an ALBM carrier for intermediate/intercontinental-range strikes.
As for the WZ-8 - Maybe there could be new Y-20 variant that could serve as WZ-8 launchers in the future? Or that future derivatives of/successors to the WZ-8 can take-off from the ground all by itself, which would negate the need for a carrier aircraft.
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lcloo
Captain
WZ-8 can take off from airfield if they change the rocket engine to jet engine. Also older H6 can be refitted to carry WZ-8, so there is no lack of H6 platform for carrying this drone.
The winding down of H6 production, if true, could be that PLAAF deemed they already have the desire number of H6 in their service. Their future orders for bomber/strike aircraft might be J16 or unmanned bomber/strike drones of more than 10 tons MTOW.
It's certainly not as simple as swapping rocket engines with jet engines. The WZ-8 is meant to be at high-supersonic and low-hypersonic speeds for the majority of its mission flight duration.
And/or that the H-20 is actually about to be ready.
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