It Looks Like That PLAAF Is Going To Buy H-6K
The PRC keeps upgrading this venerable aircraft and finding good use for it, sort of like the US and the B-52s.
In a low intensity air environment, where total air dominance is had, they are great for bombing missions, both carpet bombing and smart, precision guided munitions.
In an environment where air superiority is contested and high intensity, due to their size they can carry enough EM to allow them to operate excellently as long range standoff attack aircraft, carrying many ALCMs.
In the US now there are people flying the B-52s whose GRANDFATHERs flew the planes! Sort of like the aircraft carrier USS Enterprize which has over 50 uears of service...these aircraft are coming up on 60 years of service in 2012! In 1952, at Boeing Field, Seattle, the YB-52, serial No. 49-0231, took off for the first time. No one--not even pilots A.M. "Tex" Johnston and Guy M. Townsend--could have imagined that the gigantic eight-engine bomber would serve so well, so long, and in so many roles.
Here's a B-52H carrying cruise missiles. They can carry 12 on pylons under the wings, and eight more internally on a rotating dispenser in the bomb bay for a total of 20 ALCMs on each aircraft!
...and here's how hearty these aircraft are...this one suffered the loss of its complete vertical stabilizer in a storm, yet was able to land safely
These older aircraft, like the B-52 and H-6 are amazing.
