The Harbin SH-5 (Chinese: 水轰五型; pinyin: Shuǐhōng wǔxíng; lit. 'water bomb type 5', where "水轰" is short for 水上轰炸机; Shuǐshàng hōngzhàjī; 'seaborne bomber') is a Chinese maritime patrol amphibious aircraft intended for a wide range of duties, including aerial firefighting, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and air-sea rescue (ASR). One prototype and six production aircraft have been built.
SH-5 | |
---|---|
Role | Maritime patrol amphibian/air-sea rescue |
Manufacturer | Harbin Aircraft Factory |
First flight | 3 April 1976[1] |
Introduction | 1986 |
Primary user | People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force |
Produced | 1984-1985 |
Number built | 7 [2] |
Research to build a seaplane capable of replacing Beriev Be-6s in service was initiated by the PLANAF in 1968, with designers reassigned from "Objective 3/17", a supersonic canard-wing fighter project. The first prototype flew in 1976; further units were delivered between 1986 and 1990.
Data from Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide,[5] Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89[6]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
Doppler search radar in nose radome; MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector) boom extending from the tail of the fuselage
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era