H-6 Bomber Aircraft Discussions

H-6K is a complete new aircraft,uses of D-30K engine,injection seat,new electronicRAM coating.,..also include rotary bomb bay.
her overall RCS probably lower than original TU-16/H-6

A.Man said:

Would It Be Good For The Next 20 Years?

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Huitong's site has updated H-6K. It's obvious now that WS-18 high-bypass engine is in initial production. That is why Y-20 will have first flight in 2011 (as reported by Huitong) and now it appears H-6K program is back in high-gear (as suggested by Huitong) too.

H-6K looks much more rugged than the other H-6 variants. Of course the production variant should be slightly different from the prototypes (just like the production variant Z-10A has different exhaust from prototype WZ-10).

More H-6K's Coming

Certainly has 6 underwing hard-points...

Does it have the same nose as the 861 above?

I would say that's no. 3 ... since we've sen both no. 861 + 862 already painted (unless it's an older picture).

Deino

A.Man said:

Would It Be Good For The Next 20 Years?

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Looks very pretty It starting to look a little bit like B-1B / Tu-160...
Stick 2 more engines into it to make it 4, and put in variable-sweep wings, and I will truly be in love!

To be honest, I think a supersonic strategic bomber isn't a bad idea at all. The same concept can also be develop into a smaller medium range tactical strike bomber (eg. F-111 Aardvark) to replace the role of J-8 for long range anti-ship missions. (I know J-11/Su30 MKK are starting to replace J-8 for this role, but I don't think Su-30's range and payload is enough for this role)

challenge said:

H-6K is a complete new aircraft,uses of D-30K engine,injection seat,new electronicRAM coating.,..also include rotary bomb bay.
her overall RCS probably lower than original TU-16/H-6

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Even so, its a very old design. How can anyone expect this plane to survive against the USA/japan/south korea air defences ??? If china wants to have an effective strategic bomber, then it is high time to develop a new plane.

Yet another interesting note just found at Huitong's page:

It was rumored that the first batch of H-6Ks entered the service with PLAAF in late 2010 (S/N 18x9x?).

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Any latest "confirmation" (or esp. photos) on that ?? ... and wouldn't there more H-6K's been seen at XAC if this would be true ? ... and additionally: Are these new-built airframes or converted ones ??

Thanks in advance,
Deino

kroko said:

Even so, its a very old design. How can anyone expect this plane to survive against the USA/japan/south korea air defences ??? If china wants to have an effective strategic bomber, then it is high time to develop a new plane.

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Yeh, H-6/H-8 is over 60 years old now. While US is still using the the almost 70 years old B-52, and Russia with their almost 70 years old Tu-95 - there is a huge difference between US, Russia and China - Both US and Russia have very capable supersonic strategic bombers since 1970s (B-1B Lancer and Tu-160 Blackjack respectively) that's still highly advanced by Chinese standard, and American already has stealth bombers for more than 20+ years thats another generation ahead of Russian.

China basically has more than 2+ generations of catch-ups to do.

Although the emergence of stealth bomber might favor for China's future strategic bomber development since large supersonic turbo-jet engine is not a requirement (B-2 flies at subsonic speed) therefore it can reuse the same H-8 engines, but American is already looking at (and secretly developing) hypersonic stealth bombers.