H-6 Bomber Aircraft Discussions

tphuang

tphuang

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H-6 production will probably go on for another 5 years imo. Maybe eventually get to 200 units among the H-6K/J/N variants. Fully replace all the H-6H/M that are still in service. They are really useful even though the tech isn't new. They are cheap to operate, can launch pretty much everything, have better range than J-16/20s and have very high availability.

I think they stick around until close to 2050.
 
by78

by78

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Peek-a-boo. I think that's a Japanese F-15.

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A

ACuriousPLAFan

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Quick question:

Considering the need for more stopgap bombers for the PLAAF while waiting for the H-20 (and possibly JH-XX as well) to enter mass production, alongside the gradual introduction of the YY-20 aerial refueling tanker into PLAAF service - Should China quickly convert the H-6U aerial refueling tankers that are presently available into dedicated bombers instead, just like all other H-6s currently in PLAAF service?

As far as the numbers go, the sources that I could find indicate that there are around 20 H-6Us currently in PLAAF service. Not a huge number, but substantial nonetheless. The reason being that every additional bomber in PLAAF service would be hugely beneficial in offering more firepower and better odds to the PLA in case of a hypothetical war in the Western Pacific, IMHO.
 
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Maikeru

Maikeru

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ACuriousPLAFan said:
Quick question:

Considering the need for more stopgap bombers for the PLAAF while waiting for the H-20 (and possibly JH-XX as well) to enter mass production, alongside the gradual introduction of the YY-20 aerial refueling tanker into PLAAF service - Should China quickly convert the H-6U aerial refueling tankers that are presently available into dedicated bombers instead, just like all other H-6s currently in PLAAF service?

As far as the numbers go, the sources that I could find indicate that there are around 20 H-6Us currently in PLAAF service. Not a huge number, but substantial nonetheless. The reason being that every additional bomber in PLAAF service would be hugely beneficial in offering more firepower and better odds to the PLA in case of a hypothetical war in the Western Pacific, IMHO.
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I suspect the costs of converting them and bringing them up to anything approaching acceptably modern standards would be prohibitive, and these aircraft are likely well towards the end of their fatigue/service lives. Better to spend the money on new aircraft.
 
Blitzo

Blitzo

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ACuriousPLAFan said:
Quick question:

Considering the need for more stopgap bombers for the PLAAF while waiting for the H-20 (and possibly JH-XX as well) to enter mass production, alongside the gradual introduction of the YY-20 aerial refueling tanker into PLAAF service - Should China quickly convert the H-6U aerial refueling tankers that are presently available into dedicated bombers instead, just like all other H-6s currently in PLAAF service?

As far as the numbers go, the sources that I could find indicate that there are around 20 H-6Us currently in PLAAF service. Not a huge number, but substantial nonetheless. The reason being that every additional bomber in PLAAF service would be hugely beneficial in offering more firepower and better odds to the PLA in case of a hypothetical war in the Western Pacific, IMHO.
Click to expand...

Frankly you're better off keeping them as imperfect tankers given how few tankers the PLA has to begin with.

China has a large and constantly growing number of H-6K/J/N.

An additional dozen or so obsolete H-6U airframes that require massive work to be anywhere near as competitive as a H-6K, is just a waste of time and money and aerospace resources.
 
Maikeru

Maikeru

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Can the H6K/J fit an auxiliary fuel tank in its bomb bay to increase range? If so, what is the approximate combat radius with and without such a tank with a combat load of say 6xCJ20?
 
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