5,000 km (with nuclear payload). Development began in 1970, maiden flight took place in 1978 and state certification received in the following year. H-6 Engine Testbed – One H-6, serial number # 086, was converted into an engine testbed. Remained in service for 20 years until replacement by a converted Ilyushin Il-76. H-6 Launch Vehicle – Proposed variant intended to launch a 13 tonne Satellite Launch Vehicle at an altitude of 10,000 m. In 2000 preliminary studies began on the air-launched, all solid propellant SLV, capable of placing a payload of 50 kg in earth orbit. Mock-up of the SLV and H-6 launch platform shown during 2006 Zhuhai Air Show. Operators Current operators People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) — 231+ H-6 aircraft in active service as of November, 2020. Units operating the H-6 principally include the 8th, 10th, and 36th Air Divisions. People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF) — Operates the H-6G and H-6J naval variants. Former operators Egyptian Air Force — Previously a long-time operator of the Soviet Tu-16, after Egypt switched alliances from the Soviet Union to the United States, the Egyptian Air Force imported an undetermined number of H-6 bombers, the last of which were retired in 2000. Iraqi Air Force — Near the conclusion of the Iran–Iraq War, the Iraqi Air Force received four H-6D bombers and fifty C-601 "Silkworm" anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) in 1987. The first ship to be hit by a Silkworm missile was the Iranian freighter Entekhab on 5 February 1988. The Iraqi Air Force scored hits on a further fourteen tankers and bulk carriers using the Soviet-gifted H-6Ds and Silkworms. One Iraqi H-6D was shot down by an American-gifted Iranian F-14 Tomcat jet during the war, the remaining three H-6Ds were destroyed by the United States bombing of Al Taqaddum Air Base in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Specifications The following specifications come from the H-6 See also References Bibliography External links H-6 Bomber Family, AirForceWorld.com H-6 Medium Bomber, Sinodefence.Com Xian H-6 Badger, Ausairpower.Net Xian H-8 Chinese Stealth Bomber Project Chinese Aircraft - H-8 Ministry Of National Defense R.O.C-Default Air refueling China–Soviet Union relations 1960s Chinese bomber aircraft H-06 Twinjets Mid-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1959