Passage: Delivery of the Tu-16 to China began in 1958, and the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) signed a license production agreement with the USSR to build the type in the late 1950s. The first Chinese Tu-16, or "H-6" as it was designated in Chinese service, flew in 1959. Production was performed by the plant at Xian, with at least 150 built into the 1990s. China is estimated to currently operate around 120 of the aircraft.The latest version is the H-6K, a heavily redesigned version capable of carrying air-launched cruise missiles.According to United States Department of Defense, this will give the PLAAF a long-range offensive standoff air capability with precision-guided munitions.
Gore ra1959