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Chinese Bombers and Dual-Capable Aircraft (DCA)
Based on 1950s Soviet designs, China's bomber force is antiquated and too
slow to evade modern air defenses. China still has a handful of
H-5 bombers for nuclear use as well as the
H-6, which was used to drop nuclear weapons in two tests in the
1960s. However, China is improving its fighter force. China has
developed the Hong-7 (FB-7)
which was displayed for the first time at the 1999 Zhuhai Airshow, and purchased
the SU-27 Flanker
from Russia in 1992. The H-7 and SU-27 can both be used in air-to-ground
roles, but there is no evidence that either bomber will have a nuclear role.
| System Name [US name in brackets] | Range (Combat Radius) and Payload | Bomb Complement and Yield | Comments |
| H-5 Bomber
[B-5] |
1200 km (2000 km); 2000 kg |
1 bomb; 10 kT-3 MT |
Retired; Redesign of Soviet Il-28 Beagle; First deployed in 1968 |
| H-6 Bomber [B-6] |
3100 km (4500 km); 4500 kg |
1-3 bombs; 10 kT-3 MT per bomb |
In service; Redesign of the Soviet Tu-16 Badger; First deployed in 1965; Estimated 120 bombers with a nuclear role; Used to deliver free-fall nuclear weapons |
| Q-5 Fighter-bomber
(variations A-C) [A-5] |
400 km; 1500 kg |
1 bomb; 10 kT-3 MT |
In service; Redesign of Soviet MiG-19; First deployed in 1970; Estimated 30 attack aircraft with a nuclear role; Other sources indicate the Q-5 may no longer be used in a nuclear role |
| H-7
Fighter-bomber
[B-7 (FB-7)] |
1 bomb; 10 kT-3 MT; Some reports indicate H-7 will not have nuclear role |
Under development; Flight-tested 1988; Series production possibly began in 1992; China's first indigenously designed bomber | |
| J-11Fighter [Su-27] |
810 km 4000 kg |
First purchased from Russia in 1992 and will also be built under license. No indication that China has converted any SU-27 to nuclear role. |
H stands for "Hong" (bomber)
Q stands for "Qian" (fighter/attack aircraft)
US names: B designates bomber aircraft; FB designates fighter-bomber
aircraft; A designates attack aircraft
[Sources: "British, French, and Chinese Nuclear Forces," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, November-December 1996, p. 67; "Chinese Nuclear Forces 1993," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, November 1993, p. 57; "Chinese Nuclear And Conventional Forces 1993," Arms Control Today, December 1993, p. 29; Paul Godwin and John J. Schulz, "Arming The Dragon For The 21st Century: China's Defense Modernization Program," Arms Control Today, December 1993, p. 6; SIPRI Yearbook 1995, p. 333; Richard W. Fieldhouse, Chinese Nuclear Weapons, p. 22; Dunbar Lockwood, "The Status Of US, Russian And Chinese Nuclear Forces In Northeast Asia," Arms Control Today, Novemberm 1994, p. 24; Douglas Barrie, "Cultural Revolution," Flight International, 8-14 October 1997, p. 37.]
China's Bomber Bases:
China deploys its bombers in various air bases throughout the country, including:
Datong, Qinghai Province: Base for H-6 (B-6) bombers.
Golmud, Qinghai Province: Possible bomber dispersal base.
[Robert S. Norris, Andrew S. Burrows, and Richard W. Fieldhouse, British, French, and Chinese Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Weapons Databook, Volume V (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1994), p. 338.]
Links
[CHINA'S BALLISTIC MISSILE DESIGNATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS]
[CHINA'S NUCLEAR SUBMARINE PROGRAM]
[CHINA'S NUCLEAR DEPLOYMENTS AND STOCKPILE]
[CHINA'S NUCLEAR-CAPABLE DELIVERY SYSTEM MODERNIZATION]
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
