H-6 Bomber Aircraft Discussions

Totoro said:

It is still possible there is an optional fuel tank to be suspended inside weapons bay on certain missions, holding possibly 10ish tons of fuel.

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That's what I was thinking. Kind of an internal fuel tank module that could be installed to give the plan additional range for long range missions, but also removed to allow the retention of the bomb bay for shorter range missions.

Since this would be an internal fuel tank, structural strength requirements could be pretty low. That means they could use an expandable soft skinned design, allowing them to add it with minimal adjustments to the bomb bay, while also allowing them to maximise fuel capacity without making it a challenge to install/uninstall.

B1b has a similar solution, it certainly isnt hard to implement if plane was designed with it in mind.

Totoro said:

It is still possible there is an optional fuel tank to be suspended inside weapons bay on certain missions, holding possibly 10ish tons of fuel.

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plawolf said:

That's what I was thinking. Kind of an internal fuel tank module that could be installed to give the plan additional range for long range missions, but also removed to allow the retention of the bomb bay for shorter range missions.

Since this would be an internal fuel tank, structural strength requirements could be pretty low. That means they could use an expandable soft skinned design, allowing them to add it with minimal adjustments to the bomb bay, while also allowing them to maximise fuel capacity without making it a challenge to install/uninstall.

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Can provide an idea for qty weapons bay host 9 t of bombs possible also some others things especialy electronic but i don' t see an optional FT. Long time ago B-58 have.

Otherwise almost all say H-6K have a superior range coz engines are more economic, only reason...

B1b has a similar solution, it certainly isnt hard to implement if plane was designed with it in mind.

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What you mean ?

That tank holds roughly 20 thousand pounds of fuel. its close to 5 meters long and was made to fit inside weapons bay.

FORBIN said:

What you mean ?

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He is saying that there is an auxiliary bomb bay fuel tank for the B-1

20 thousand pounds of fuel

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About 8 t he carry 120 t for ratio % few in more, i see hosted in the front weapons bay which for STRART Treaty is divided into two for can' t host AGM-86.

For H-6K completely different carry 35 t of fuel if he get same qty as others,
So it is possible he havethan mentioned by playwolf ?? saying 8 t in more very interesting...

H-6U tanker, very limited have 18t for refuel.

Some H-6K pics I had not seen before:

I think the second photo is the recent patrol of the H-6K over South China Sea.

Elite-Pilot said:

Re: Question regarding the future of the H-6 bomber

The B-2 spirit bomber is the most expensive aircraft in the world (2 Billion dollars US) and has been put in service in extremely low numbers. THe B-1 has been having problems and the Americans are doubting its abilities and the only bomber that is reliable in their service is the B-52 which also seems to be very fatigued.

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Sorry, but the B-1B has actually been performing well in its combat missions in the Mid-ast.

I do not know where you are getting your information, though there are plenty very liberal/progressive outlets that believe anything military by definition is broken and uselss...but from a traditional military perspective, the B-1B is performing very well.

The B-52s are regularly updated and have fatigued material replaced. They are extremly well maintained as they would have to be in order to continue operating so lng.

The US trains and exercises its fleet of aircraft very regularly and so the maintenance and upgrade capabilities are second to none.

Right now B-2s (a three ship group), B-1Bs, and B-52Hs are all deployed to Guam for exercises...and they are doing quite well.

All three have been seeing combat in Syria and Afghanistan.

@Jeff Head ... thanks Jeff

Syria and Afganistan dont have any sort of Air Defense

Do you think the US would send B-1B, and B-52H to a countries with effective Air Defense .. let say with moderately strong Air Defense with effective interceptors and older S-300 SAM ?