Beijing, Sept.09 (China Defense Mashup Report by Johnathan Weng) — The H-6 (Hongzha-6 or Hong-6) is the Chinese copy of the Russian Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO codename: Badger) medium-range bomber. For more than three decades, the bomber has remained the backbone of the PLA’s long-range strike fleet. Today, the PRC is the only country in the world that still deploys the Tu-16/H-6 in operational service, serving in a wide range of roles from nuclear and tactical bomber, to naval missile bomber, tanker, reconnaissance/electronic warfare, engine testbed, and cruise missile platform. The service life of this 40-year-old design in the PLA is expected to continue beyond the year 2015, even more years, perhaps.

During the 2002 Zhuhai Air Show, AIVC I (the parent company of XAC) broadcasted a video which briefly showed a new H-6 featuring four under-wing pylons in flight testing. Later it turned out to be a new naval variant H-6 designated H-6M. The new bomber was spotted in operational service with the PLA Naval Aviation Corps since 2005, possibly as a successor to the older H-6D introduced in the early 1980s.

Little detail on this new variant is available at this stage. Judging from the photos speculated on the Chinese Internet, the bomber has all of its original 23mm cannons removed. Four large pylons are fitted under the wings to carry four YJ-81 anti-ship missiles. If necessary, the bomber may also be able to carry the KD-88 land-attack cruise missile (LACM) for precision strike role.

This is a short video of H-6M serviced in PLA Navy aviation Bombing Troop

This is a Electronic Variants of Y-8 with Battlefield Surveillance System.