Xi'an H-6
| Xi'an H-6 | |
|---|---|
| Xi'an H-6K | |
| General information | |
| Type | Strategic bomber |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation |
| Status | In service; in production |
| Primary users | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Number built | 231+ as of 2020 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1969 |
| First flight | 1959 |
| Retired | 1991 (Iraq) 2000 (Egypt) |
| Developed from | Tupolev Tu-16 |
The Xi'an H-6 (Chinese: 轰-6; pinyin: Hōng-6) 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.
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.
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.