Xi'an H-6
Chinese strategic bomber aircraft / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Xi'an H-6 (Chinese: 轰-6; pinyin: Hōng-6)[lower-alpha 1] is a twin-engine jet bomber of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The H-6 is a license-built version of the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 and remains the primary bomber aircraft of the People's Republic of China.
Xi'an H-6 | |
---|---|
Xi'an H-6K | |
Role | Strategic bomber |
National origin | China |
Manufacturer | Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation |
First flight | 1959[1] |
Introduction | 1969[2] |
Retired | 1991 (Iraq) 2000 (Egypt) |
Status | In service; in production |
Primary users | People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Navy Egyptian Air Force (historical) Iraqi Air Force (historical) |
Number built | 231+ As of 2020 [3][4] |
Developed from | Tupolev Tu-16 |
Variants | Xi'an H-6I |
Delivery of the Tu-16 to China began in 1958, and a license production agreement with the Soviets was signed in the late 1950s. By November 2020, the PLAAF had as many as 231, and continued to build the aircraft.[1][3]
The latest variant of the H-6 is the H-6N, a heavily redesigned version capable of aerial refueling and carrying air-launched cruise missiles. According to the United States Department of Defense, this will give the PLAAF a long-range standoff offensive air capability with precision-guided munitions.[5][6]