The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense reported at 0920 EST that 29 land based aircraft of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) entered the Taiwanese Air Identification Zone without proper protocols which scrambled Taiwanese interceptors. This is the largest incursion since May 30th when 30 aircraft followed a similar route. However, this flight included Chinese H-6 bombers which adds a layer of immediacy to Taiwanese combat air patrol aircraft deployed to intercept these high value targets. See our previous article for descriptions on the aircraft.
The Xian H-6 is a licence-built version of the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16twin-engine jet bomber, built for China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Approximately 231 were built for the PLAAF. They use the H-6 as their third leg of the nuclear triad and as their most potent air power projection platform. However, it will be replaced by the H-20 as the PLAAF attempts to penetrate western IADS in the Pacific, especially in bids for the first and second island chains. The General characteristics from Sinodefence are as follows:
- Crew: 4
- Length: 34.8 m (114 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 33 m (108 ft 3 in)
- Height: 10.36 m (34 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 165 m2 (1,780 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 37,200 kg (82,012 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 95,000 kg (209,439 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Soloviev D-30KP-2 turbofanengines, 118 kN (27,000 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 1,050 km/h (650 mph, 570 kn)
- Cruise speed: 768 km/h (477 mph, 415 kn) / 0.75M
- Range: 6,000 km (3,700 mi, 3,200 nmi)
- Combat range: 1,800 km (1,100 mi, 970 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 12,800 m (42,000 ft)
- Wing loading: 460 kg/m2 (94 lb/sq ft)
- Thrust/weight: 0.24
Armament
- Guns:
- 2× 23 mm (0.906 in) Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons in remote dorsal turret
- 2× NR-23 cannons in remote ventral turret
- 2× NR-23 cannons in manned tail turret
- 1× NR-23 cannons in nose (occasional addition)
- Missiles:
- 6 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 anti-ship missile
- C-301 anti-ship missile
- C-101 anti-ship missile
- CM-802A
- YJ-12 anti-ship missile
- DF-21D (H-6N)
- Bombs: 12,000 kg (26,400 lb) of free-fall weapons
- Guided bombs
- GB6
- CS/BBC5
- GB2A
- GB5
- Guided bombs
