The subsequent navalised H-6D carried the Chinese Type 245 attack radar in a bulkier radome, and a pair of large liquid rocket powered 5,400 lb C-601/YJ-6 (CAS-1 Kraken) ASCMs, based on the HY-2 Silkworm, a P-21 Styx derivative. More recently longer ranging C-611/YJ-61 have been carried. For comparison, in role the CAS-1 Kraken compares most closely to the Soviet liquid rocket powered KSR-2 / AS-5A Kelt carried by a range of AV-MF Tu-16K variants. The most recent variant identified in operational service is a subtype usually labelled the 'H-6H' which has all guns removed, the dorsal station faired over and the ventral station replaced with a large bulged radome, retaining two missile pylons. This variant is armed with a pair of KD-63 TV/datalink guided cruise missiles, derived from the HY-4 Sadsack, itself a turbojet derivative of the Kraken/Seersucker series. Chinese sources claim the radome covers the datalink antenna for the KD-63 missile system. The are claims of a H-6G variant for missile targeting, analogous to the Tu-95RTs Bear D in role. No details are available at this time. The H-6H has recently been joined by similar new build variant, usually labelled the 'H-6M', which adds two more pylons outboard and removes the aft gunner's blisters and ventral radome to cut drag. The are also reports this variant uses the bomb bay fuel tank developed for the H-6U tanker to extend operating radius. This 'H-6H' derivative has been identified as a 'cruise missile carrier' but the cruise missile type has yet to be disclosed - US sources claim 25 airframe rebuilds or new builds were planned. Footage from the 2002 Zhuhai Airshow AVIC I promotional video shows a 'H-6M' prototype carrying four missiles which appear to be the YJ-82 derivatives - or dummy payloads of similar shape. In terms of land attack cruise missiles five immediate possibilities exist - the indigenous HN-1, HN-2 and HN-3 credited by Russian sources with 325 NMI (600 km), 800 NMI (1,500 km) and 1,350 NMI (2,500 km) range carrying 'special' payloads or less with a 900 lb (400 kg) class conventional payload, a cloned Tomahawk widely reported, likely to be the DH-10, and a variant of the 3,300 lb (1,500 kg) class Raduga Kh-65SE or Kh-55SM cruise missile. The Kh-65 is based on the Kh-55/RKV-500 (AS-15 Kent) carried by Russian Bear/Blackjack and is an equivalent to the Boeing AGM-86B ALCM. There are reports claiming that a design data package, and tooling for the Kh-65SE were exported to the PRC post 2000. All of these missiles are claimed to use Tercom/inertial guidance like the US AGM-86 and BGM-109 series. While the Badger is not a credible penetrator armed with free fall bombs, if armed with a modern 600 NMI class conventional cruise missile, or 1,300 NMI class nuclear armed cruise missile, it becomes a credible strategic strike asset offering a reach of 1,900 to 2,600 NMI. Carrying dumb bombs it replicates the close air support capability of the B-52H and B-1B. If operated in a similar fashion to these US types it could remain in service another 40 years. The most recent reports from China suggest a third new build variant is in test, usually labelled the 'H-6K'. This subtype has a solid nose completely revised against the legacy H-6U, six wing pylons for cruise missiles, possibly one centreline pylon, and a bomb bay fuel tank. The new nose section and crew station employs a multiple large panel glass cockpit, ejection seats for the three or four crew members, a large aperture attack radar, ventral thermal imager turret, and EWSP blister radomes. Poor quality imagery available indicates that a much larger engine inlet is used, indicating that claims of a new turbofan engine are indeed correct. Chinese sources are claiming the Saturn D-30KP-2 is employed, due to a purchase of the several dozen of these engines in recent years. The 'H-6K' is thus the most radical development of the H-6 Badger to date. With much lower SFC than the WP-8/RD-3M engine of the baseline Badger, and ~85,000 lb of internal fuel, this variant will outrange all earlier Badgers signficantly (until engine type and installed SFC are known more accurate estimates of range increases are problematic). The missiles visible on existing imagery are of the configuration of the Kh-55/DH-10/YJ-62, but poor quality precludes a more accurate assessment. What is clear is that the H-6K is designed as a cruise missile carrier to fit the 'second island chain' strategy. Xian H-6 Bomber fighter chinese air force military pilot training system 轟6 轟炸機中國空軍戰略力量,for more information about china world news visit site at http://youtube.com/user/geomilitaryhistory as well as business website at http://penglaichina.com

• published: 21 Mar 2015
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