H-6 Bomber Aircraft Discussions
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plawolf
Lieutenant General
It's China's super-secret new submersible death star base!
plawolf
Lieutenant General
I don't see how it does either. Also I think they should have sent a CAP package to go with the bombers and practiced intercepting the Japanese fighters. Might as well make the exercise as realistic as possible and make the most out of the free training opportunity the Japanese presents.
Now that would have re-affirmed China's ADIZ, as if the bombers were flying within the ADIZ, and the Japanese sent fighters into the zone to intercept them, the PLAAF should have also scrambled fighters to intercept the Japanese interceptors.
Unarmed and unescorted bomber is used most in such hotspot cause it pose little threate and unlikely to cause miscalculation. Like russian only use an unarmed SU-24 to buzz a US navy ship. A bomber formation with fighter escort is something, too "real" I would say. It would be almost identical to a real strike formation in a real war scenario (or a sneak attack scenario) unless the other side have visual confirmation that this attack fleet doesn't carry any live munition. It would be a invitation of war when a crisis or some "fast-acting" country is involved.
Flankers also patrolled the ADIZ in conjunction with the H-6Ks, though I'm not sure if they had "escorted" the H-6Ks as such. I think it was made up of separate formations of H-6Ks, ELINT and AEW&C aircraft, and Flankers.
A news clip seemed to show AEW&C, Flankers, JH-7s as well as H-6Ks all operating in that particular exercise, and I'm inclined to believe they were not stock footage in this case.
Direct from chinese military media too:
PLA Air Force conducts high-sea training in West Pacific
Source: China Military OnlineEditor: Yao Jianing
2015-11-27 22:51
NANJING, Nov. 27 (ChinaMil) -- The Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) sent its H-6K bombers and other types of warplanes to fly more than 1000 kilometers beyond the “first island chain” to carry out high-sea training over the West Pacific Ocean by flying over the Miyako Strait on November 27, 2015, PLA Air Force Spokesman Shen Jinke said in Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu Province on the same day.
Shen Jinke said that the PLA Air Force also sent H-6K bombers and other types of fighters and airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft at the same time to patrol the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea.
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I also think that this image has been p'shopped. ventral photos of the aircraft show now under engine or underfuselage mount points. Also with regard the wing pylons - the nearest missile is clearly mounted on the centre of the three pylons. the Inner pylon is clearly empty. Maybe the further (inner) missile is duct taped to the outer?
Bernard
Junior Member
Why Isn’t China Building a New Bomber?
Beijing has trouble developing modern jet engines, for one
April 1, 2016
China is developing two new stealth fighters, stealthy unmanned aircraft, new cruise and ballistic missiles; however, Beijing thus far has not attempted to develop...
China is developing two new stealth fighters, stealthy unmanned aircraft, new cruise and ballistic missiles; however, Beijing thus far has not attempted to develop a new bomber. Instead, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force relies on the upgraded — a derivative of the antiquated Soviet Tu-16 Badger — which is armed with a host of cruise missiles.
But given the size of the Pacific and the ranges both American and Chinese aircraft would have to fly over in the event of a conflict, it would be logical for Beijing to develop a long-range bomber that could strike at some of the more distant U.S. bases or to attack U.S. Navy carriers at sea.
Moreover, if U.S. forces struck at the Chinese mainland during a war — perhaps over Taiwan — Beijing would only have two options with which to strike back. One would be nuclear weapons — which would signal the start of World War III — or non-kinetic cyber-attacks.
There have been persistent rumors that China has tried to purchase the production line from Russia, but those have usually not panned out. It would make sense if China had made an attempt to purchase the Backfire line — much of Beijing’s vaunted anti-access/area denial strategy is drawn from the Soviet Union’s plans to cut off Europe from North America if the Cold War ever turned hot.
The Soviets, too, envisioned a combination of submarines, ships and bomber-launched cruise missile barrages overwhelming a carrier strike group. Only part of the Chinese version of the strategy that is new is the anti-ship ballistic missile component.
Above — Xian H-6 bombers at the Chinese Aviation Museum in Beijing. /Wikimedia photo. At top — an H-6 in flight. /Wikimedia photo
It also lacks a sufficient air-launched cruise missile component. The upgraded H-6K is a serviceable platform, but a newer, more capable bomber would probably be useful to the Chinese. That newer platform could be long-range stealth bomber or even a stand-off long-range cruise missile carrier similar in concept to the Russian Tu-160 Blackjack. But thus far China has not been observed developing a new long-range bomber.
But why is that? The answer is likely propulsion. The Chinese — despite years of work — have not been able to develop a reliable jet engine that is ready for mass production. Earlier this year, the Chinese government admitted that its engine technology is not ready for prime time. China’s Defense Ministry that there was a “definite gap” between Chinese military technology and some developed countries.
However, China has made jet engine technology development a priority. The Shanghai-based Galleon Group aerospace consulting firm — as cited by Reuters— estimates that Beijing will spend $300 billion over the next 20 years on civil and military aircraft engine programs. Indeed, according to various sources, Chinese aerospace firms have hired foreign engineers and former air force personnel to work on engine development.
That means that it is likely that Beijing will eventually be able to build its own jet engines. Once that happens — we could very well see the emergence of a new Chinese bomber.
Originally from national interest
Beijing has trouble developing modern jet engines, for one
April 1, 2016
China is developing two new stealth fighters, stealthy unmanned aircraft, new cruise and ballistic missiles; however, Beijing thus far has not attempted to develop...
China is developing two new stealth fighters, stealthy unmanned aircraft, new cruise and ballistic missiles; however, Beijing thus far has not attempted to develop a new bomber. Instead, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force relies on the upgraded — a derivative of the antiquated Soviet Tu-16 Badger — which is armed with a host of cruise missiles.
But given the size of the Pacific and the ranges both American and Chinese aircraft would have to fly over in the event of a conflict, it would be logical for Beijing to develop a long-range bomber that could strike at some of the more distant U.S. bases or to attack U.S. Navy carriers at sea.
Moreover, if U.S. forces struck at the Chinese mainland during a war — perhaps over Taiwan — Beijing would only have two options with which to strike back. One would be nuclear weapons — which would signal the start of World War III — or non-kinetic cyber-attacks.
There have been persistent rumors that China has tried to purchase the production line from Russia, but those have usually not panned out. It would make sense if China had made an attempt to purchase the Backfire line — much of Beijing’s vaunted anti-access/area denial strategy is drawn from the Soviet Union’s plans to cut off Europe from North America if the Cold War ever turned hot.
The Soviets, too, envisioned a combination of submarines, ships and bomber-launched cruise missile barrages overwhelming a carrier strike group. Only part of the Chinese version of the strategy that is new is the anti-ship ballistic missile component.
Above — Xian H-6 bombers at the Chinese Aviation Museum in Beijing. /Wikimedia photo. At top — an H-6 in flight. /Wikimedia photo
It also lacks a sufficient air-launched cruise missile component. The upgraded H-6K is a serviceable platform, but a newer, more capable bomber would probably be useful to the Chinese. That newer platform could be long-range stealth bomber or even a stand-off long-range cruise missile carrier similar in concept to the Russian Tu-160 Blackjack. But thus far China has not been observed developing a new long-range bomber.
But why is that? The answer is likely propulsion. The Chinese — despite years of work — have not been able to develop a reliable jet engine that is ready for mass production. Earlier this year, the Chinese government admitted that its engine technology is not ready for prime time. China’s Defense Ministry that there was a “definite gap” between Chinese military technology and some developed countries.
That means that it is likely that Beijing will eventually be able to build its own jet engines. Once that happens — we could very well see the emergence of a new Chinese bomber.
Originally from national interest
Sorry ... but via ... do I have to say more ?