D
Air ForcesChina

H-6

Strategic bomberIn serviceFielded 1969Pending verification

Also known as: Xian H-6, Hong-6

Air ForcesCHN
H-6
Photo: 日本防衛省·統合幕僚監部 · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeStrategic bomber
Alternative designationsXian H-6, Hong-6
Date of introduction1969
ProliferationOrigin country only
ManufacturerXi'an Aircraft Industrial CorporationMed[1]
Crew4Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length34.8 m114 ftMed[1]
Wingspan33 m108 ftMed[1]
Height10.36 m34 ftMed[1]
Wing area165 m2Med[1]
Empty weight37,200 kg82,012 lbMed[1]
Gross weight76,000 kg167,551 lbMed[1]
Flight performance
Engine2 × Xian WP-8 turbojet enginesMed[1]
Thrust-to-weightThrust/weight: 0.24Med[1]
Range6,000 km3,728 mi · 3,240 nmi6,000 km (3,700 mi, 3,200 nmi)Med[1]
Combat range6,000 km (3,700 mi, 3,200 nmi)Med[1]
Cruise speed768 km/h (477 mph, 415 kn) / 0.75MMed[1]
Service ceiling12,800 m41,995 ftMed[1]
Speed1,050 km/h652 mph · 567 ktSource card lists 1,050 with a knots unit; treated as km/hMed[1]
Protection
NBC ProtectionYesMed[1]
Armament and payload
Missile Weapon Systems: available missiles6 or 7 KD-88 missile (anti-ship or air- to-surface); YJ-100 (CJ-10) anti-ship missile; C-601 anti-ship missile; YJ-62 (C-602) anti-ship missile; C-301 anti-ship missile; C-101 anti-ship missile; CM-802A; YJ-12 anti-ship missile; DF-21D (H-6N);Med[1]
Bombs: bomb bay capacity9,000 kg (20,000 lb) of free-fall weaponsMed[1]
Bombs: available bombsGB6; CS/BBC5; GB2A; GB5Med[1]
ArmamentNudelman-Rikhter NR-23; SY-1 (Silkworm)Med[1]
Variants
Production VariantsXian H-6 – Conventional bomber. Tupolev Tu-16 produced under license in China, first flew in 1959. A prototype conducted China’s first aerial nuclear weapon test at Lop Nor on 14 May 1965. Xian H-6A – Nuclear bomber. Xian H-6B – Aerial reconnaissance variant.[1]
Aerial refuelling versionsXian HY-6 (Hongzhaji You-6) – First successful in-flight refuelling tanker variant in Chinese service. Retained PV-23 fire control system of H-6 and thus can still be deployed as a missile launcher.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 2Confidence · Source
Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23Single-barrel, short recoil-operated 23 mm (0.90 in) cannon.
Med[1]
Type
Single-barrel, short recoil-operated 23 mm (0.90 in) cannon.
Caliber
23 mm
Rate of fire
800–850 rpm
SY-1 (Silkworm)Anti-Ship Missile
Med[1]
Range
150 km93 mi · 81 nmi
Type
Anti-Ship Missile
Warhead
Shaped charge high explosive
Warhead weight
513 kg
Speed
Mach 0.8
Length
6.55 m
Summary

The Xian H-6 (Hōng-6) is a license-built version of the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 twin-engine jet bomber, built for China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
China
Sources
  1. H-6 (Hong-6) Chinese Strategic Bomber, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-05 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
  • 2026-10-06 Added photo (CC BY 4.0)