Only three air forces on Earth still fly actual heavy, long‑range strategic bombers: the USAF, the Russian Aerospace Forces, and the PLAAF. You can argue all day about whether heavy bombers still matter in a battlefield increasingly run by drones, but the fact remains: all three countries still operate them, still fund them, and still need crews who know which button does what. And let’s be honest here: when you’re flying a giant metal turkey capable of carrying nuclear weapons, having a crew that presses the right button is generally considered a good idea.
And if you need crews, you need training. This is where the story gets… very PLAAF.
While the USAF and Russians train their bomber crews the normal way by flying actual B‑52s(link), Tu‑95s, Tu‑160s, and Tu‑22M3s and burning fuel like it’s still the Cold War, the ever‑thrifty PLAAF went full “creative frugality” in the late ’90s and simply converted the Xian Y‑7-100 transports (and later imported An‑34s) into HYJ‑7 bomber trainers, complete with a three‑man crew, a big bombing‑compartment bulge, and ten wing bomb bays, proving once again that if there’s a cheaper way to do something, the PLAAF will absolutely do it. Those imported Russian D-30KP-2 engines can't be that cheap or long lasting.
Nobody outside the PLAAF has any clue how effective the HYJ‑7 really is as a bomber substitute, and the PLAAF isn’t exactly publishing peer‑reviewed results. The takeaway is simply this: if there’s a way to stretch a budget until it squeals, the PLAAF will do it.
Ripley: "How many drops is this for you, Lieutenant?" Lieutenant Gorman: "Thirty-eight... simulated. Private Vasquez: "How many combat drops?"Lieutenant Gorman: "Uh, two. Including this one."
Monday, January 05, 2015
Photo of the day: The aggressor H-6K practicing a low-level penetration bomb run against a PLAAF anti-defense brigade during a confrontational drill
The newsworthy of this picture is not the low-level penetration bomb run
-- which the K model is primarily designed to perform -- rather the
serial number of 11193 confirming that the PLAAF 8th Bomber Division now
has at least 14 H-6K (god of war) model in its orbat.
The other H-6K unit is the PLAAF 10th bomber division
H-6K bombers delivered to PLA Air Force
By Chen Boyuan
China.org.cn, June 22, 2013
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2013-06/22/content_29197824.htm
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force recently received 15 H-6K bombers with nuclear capabilities, according to British military digest Jane’s Defence Weekly.
The H-6K, an updated version of the H-6 bomber, is a medium-sized craft designed for long-range attacks, stand-off attacks and large-area air patrol. Unlike its predecessor, the H-6K can carry cruise missiles under its wings. The H6-K also maneuvers more deftly than the H-6 and requires a smaller crew to operate. Jane’s Defence was the first media outlet to confirm that the H6-K had formally entered active service.
The most visible departure from the H-6 is the H6-K’s nose, where a nose randome has replaced a navigation cabin. Military expert Fu Qianshao said that the H6-K’s nose should greatly improve avionics, search and detection, navigation, fire control and weapon precision.
Fu said that the H-6K has a larger engine inlet than does the H-6, which may mean that the newer bomber’s engines have greater thrust. If so, the H-6K would also have a greater maximum takeoff weight and payload than the H-6. A more favorable weight-to-thrust ratio would improve fuel efficiency and lengthen cruising range, Fu said.
H-6K reportedly has a combat radius of 3,500 KM. The nuclear-capable Changjian (long sword)-10 cruise missiles it carries have a range of 1,500-2,000 KM, effectively extending the bomber’s combat range to 4,000-5,000 KM - long enough to reach Okinawa, Guam and even Hawaii from China’s mainland.
Analysts stipulated that PLA Air Force missiles be able to reach Taiwan, southwestern Japan and Guam, a range of control that requires a 3,000-KM combat radius and powerful attack capability. Only the combined combat radii of the H6-K and Changjian-10 currently satisfy the length requirement.
The other H-6K unit is the PLAAF 10th bomber division
Sunday, November 17, 2013
PLAAF "in the news" of the day: H-6K, god-of-war (small g)
By Chen Boyuan
China.org.cn, June 22, 2013
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2013-06/22/content_29197824.htm
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force recently received 15 H-6K bombers with nuclear capabilities, according to British military digest Jane’s Defence Weekly.
The H-6K, an updated version of the H-6 bomber, is a medium-sized craft designed for long-range attacks, stand-off attacks and large-area air patrol. Unlike its predecessor, the H-6K can carry cruise missiles under its wings. The H6-K also maneuvers more deftly than the H-6 and requires a smaller crew to operate. Jane’s Defence was the first media outlet to confirm that the H6-K had formally entered active service.
The most visible departure from the H-6 is the H6-K’s nose, where a nose randome has replaced a navigation cabin. Military expert Fu Qianshao said that the H6-K’s nose should greatly improve avionics, search and detection, navigation, fire control and weapon precision.
Fu said that the H-6K has a larger engine inlet than does the H-6, which may mean that the newer bomber’s engines have greater thrust. If so, the H-6K would also have a greater maximum takeoff weight and payload than the H-6. A more favorable weight-to-thrust ratio would improve fuel efficiency and lengthen cruising range, Fu said.
H-6K reportedly has a combat radius of 3,500 KM. The nuclear-capable Changjian (long sword)-10 cruise missiles it carries have a range of 1,500-2,000 KM, effectively extending the bomber’s combat range to 4,000-5,000 KM - long enough to reach Okinawa, Guam and even Hawaii from China’s mainland.
Analysts stipulated that PLA Air Force missiles be able to reach Taiwan, southwestern Japan and Guam, a range of control that requires a 3,000-KM combat radius and powerful attack capability. Only the combined combat radii of the H6-K and Changjian-10 currently satisfy the length requirement.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
New photos of the H-6K variant
With a pair of imported Russian D-30 engines.
Unrelated photos of H-6 performing a good ole style carpet bombing.
Unrelated photos of H-6 performing a good ole style carpet bombing.
On August 16, a flight regiment of the East China Sea Fleet under the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army carried out low-altitude mass-bombing training on a water range located between China’s Jiangsu Province and Anhui Province. According to Li Dashan, political commissar of the regiment, the low-altitude mass bombing features high demands and risks. In recent years, the regiment accomplished training on highly-difficult tactical subjects of pelagic attack, maritime extra-low bombing, mass bombing in formation and maritime mine-laying, so as to acquire the masterly skills for future sea and air combat.
By Wang Chaowu
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Final installment of D-30KP-2 delivered to China
The following is a Google translated news from (here), the same in Chinese (here).
Thus far there are two known use of D-30KP-2 by the "Chinese customer"
they are the H-6K "God of War" bomber program and the KJ-2000 Mainring
AWAC fleet. Since the existing KL-2000 fleet does not require 55 new
engines, it is likely that more H-6K will be manufactured in due course.
NPO "Saturn", 25 March 2011
http://www.aviatablo.ru/node/37485/
March 23 fifth installment of D-30KP-2 production of JSC "NPO Saturn" put the Chinese customer. This is the final party of 11 engines, the contract between Rosoboronexport and the China People's Republic, which entered into force in April 2009, to supply 55 engines for the period until 2012.
Delivery of the final installment of D-30KP-2 is scheduled before the end of March this year. Contract also provides technical support from the manufacturer within the warranty period.
The previous four parties of D-30KP-2 were delivered by the Russian side, respectively, in November 2009, March, May and October 2010.During the acceptance of work members of the Chinese delegation and a representative of the PRC Embassy in Moscow, Zheng Kai noted with satisfaction the early and qualitative performance of OAO "Saturn" contractual obligations.
According to the commercial director of NPO Saturn, Sergei Popov, "for" Saturn ", which has longstanding friendly relations with Chinese customers, a great honor to successfully complete the work under this contract. We look forward to an early extension of the Russian-Chinese cooperation. In particular, the continued supply of engines to China, the D-30KP-2.
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