Soviet design and ability to carry out devastating attacks: this is China’s H-6 nuclear strategic bomber

United States, Russia and China They are the only three nations of the planet they operate strategic bombers. These are aircraft designed to attack enemy assets or territory from very close range. The Asian giant does not have the most modern strategic bombers (that title goes to the North American country and its Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider), but its fleet projects destructive power against any enemy.

The US Army Data Integration Network estimates that China has around 120 Xian H-6 in its different versions. A curious note is that this plane is based on the Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-16. However, the Asian country has been producing them under license for a long time. Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) has been tasked with this task since the 1950s. The first H-6 flew back in 1959.

Xian H-6, a nuclear strategic bomber

Over the years, China has put several versions of the H-6 into service, allowing it to play a dual role, that is, as a conventional bomber as well as a nuclear one. After the introduction of the H-6 came the H-6A capable of launching atomic bombs. The H-6B reconnaissance variant, the nuclear H6-C and an improved H-6E followed. Despite its longevity, the Asian giant has launched a redesigned version of the bomber.

We are talking about the H-6N. Although from the external point of view no major changes are observed, the improved aircraft can launch cruise missiles and fly long distances thanks to the fact that its nose allows fuel supply in mid-flight by a tanker plane. On paper, China has a long-range offensive air capability that, as we say, can intimidate many of its rivals.

In fact, in the first quarter of this year the plane was photographed with what was apparently a ballistic missile called YJ-21. The supersonic-type projectile aims to hit targets on the land surface and at sea. Also these bombers have been seen perform operations near Taiwan and even approaching Japanese airspace. The H-6 also often appears in Chinese military parades.

Images | People’s Liberation Army

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