Xian H-6K
Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation · China · first flew 2007 · bomber
The Xian H-6K is a Chinese conventional long-range bomber, a heavily modernised development of the licence-built Tupolev Tu-16.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 34.8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Swept mid-mounted wing with a turbofan buried in each wing root
- Enlarged engine inlets for the Soloviev D-30 turbofans
- Large twin-engined airframe about 35 m long with a 33 m span
Compared with earlier H-6 bombers, look for the larger engine inlets of the turbofan engines in the wing roots.
Specifications
- The Xian H-6K has a length of 34.8 m (114 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 33 m (108 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1050 km/h (652 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The H-6K first flew on 5 January 2007 and entered service in October 2009. It has a reinforced structure using composite materials, a glass cockpit and Soloviev D-30KP turbofans.
Variants
It is the standard conventional variant of the H-6 family. A version with a refuelling probe may have first flown in December 2016.
Where you'll see it
The PLA Air Force operates it for long-range and stand-off attack, carrying up to six YJ-12 anti-ship missiles or several land-attack cruise missiles. H-6Ks have also flown joint patrols with Russian Tu-95MS bombers.
Related aircraft
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