Kurogane/Dongfang Spirit Dragon

The Kurogane/Dongfang Type-06 Shinryu (: 神竜; Shinryū; lit. 'Divine Dragon'), or H.50 Shenlong (: 神龍; Shén Lóng; lit. 'Spirit Dragon'), is a  jointly developed and manufactured by Kurogane Aircraft Company of Akiteiwa and Dongfang Aerospace Industries of Kodeshia. The official Akitei designation is Kurogane Type 06 Heavy Bomber Shinryu (:くろがね 06式 重爆撃機 神竜; Kurogane 06-shiki jū bakugeki-ki shinryū). The Kodeshi official designation is the Dongfang H.50 Shenlong (: 东方 轟.50 神龍; Hōng.50 Shénlóng). The aircraft was a joint venture between Kurogane and the Dongfang Aerospace Industries, one of the first major joint Akitei-Kodeshi military aircraft programmes. It is a four-engined heavy bomber, capable of delivering and conventional ordnance in a ground attack and maritime strike role. The latest variants are capable of and carrying. Providing Akiteiwa and Kodeshia with a long-range offensive air capability with.

Origins
It was initially developed to meet the requirements for a long-range attack and stand-off attack as well as an airborne nuclear deterrent for the Akitei and Kodeshi Air Forces. The development of the bomber can be traced back to a requirement expressed by the Akiteiwa during the Great Kesh War in 1950s for a reconnaissance bomber that harnessed newly developed jet propulsion. Another key innovation adopted during the development process was the swept wing, drawing upon the latest aerospace research. The joint Akitei-Kodeshi bomber represented a major innovation in post-Great Kesh War combat jet design, and contributed to the development of modern jet airliners.

Design
The H.50 is a futuristic-looking, streamlined aircraft, with four turbojet (later turbofan) engines buried in the thick wing roots. Distinguishing features of the H.50 were its highly swept T-tail with considerable dihedral on the tail planes, and a prominent chin bulge that contained the targeting radar, nose landing gear unit and an auxiliary bomb aimer's position. The H.50 had a four-person crew, comprising the aircraft commander, pilot, offensive systems officer, and defensive systems officer.

Armaments and equipment
The H.50's bomb bay allowed heavier weapon loads to be carried at the cost of range. The type can carry nuclear bomb as required by the specification, the bomb bay was designed to carry several conventional armaments, including a single 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) or two 5,400 kg (12,000 lb) earthquake bombs, up to forty-eight 450 kg (1,000 lb) bombs or thirty-nine 910 kg (2,000 lb) sea mines.

Avionics and systems
The H.50 has fully powered flying controls for the ailerons, elevators and rudder, with no manual reversion which, therefore required duplication as back-up. Since the control surfaces were fully powered an artificial feel unit was provided, fed by ram air from the pitot in the nose. As noted previously, the control system was duplicated in flying control units which received pilot and autopilot demands. Pilot control movements were transmitted via a low-friction mechanical system to the flying control units.

Engines
The H.50 is powered by four Kurogane/SHAECO WS.46-11H turbofans. The engines were embedded in pairs in the wing roots. Because of the mid wing position, the tail was mounted at the tip of the fin to keep clear of the jet efflux.

Operational history
The H.50 having undergone flight testing and has proven successful, with the flight test program including weapons tests of both bombs and air-to-surface missiles. Has entered service with the air forces of Akiteiwa and Kodeshia.

Akiteiwa
The first Type-06s were delivered to the Akitei Air forces in 1964.

Kodeshia
The first H.50s were delivered to the the Imperial Kodeshi Air Force in 1954. After achieving initial operating capability, the H.50 was deployed for combat duties in reconnaissance operations against Selengeria. It has participated missions over northwest Kodeshia in Operation Menglong, against the rebel insurgency in 1983. The Imperial Kodeshi Air Force have operated XXX in service with the Imperial Kodeshi Air Force since 1972.

Future and potential operators
While still in the prototype stage of development, considerable foreign interest in the acquisition of several bomber-configured Divine Dragons; in the end the possible customers did not materialise and no sales have apparently been made, the bomber has not yet serve with any operators other than the Akiteiwa Imperial and Royal Air Force and the Imperial Kodeshi Air Force.

Prototype Models

 * Kurogane/Dongfang PT.35-2
 * Prototype version, six built.

Production Models

 * Kurogane/Dongfang Type 06 Heavy Bomber
 * 1964 production version of the Type 06 with improved afterburning turbofan engines and redesigned fuselage for supersonic dash capability


 * Kurogane/Dongfang Type 06 Heavy Bomber Kai
 * Current Akitei strategic bomber variant with full strike and combat abilities. The Akitei Imperial and Royal Air Force, the Bomb bay and avionics modified for use with modern cruise missiles and precision guided munitions.


 * Kurogane/Dongfang Type 05 Maritime Strike Bomber
 * Specialised supersonicAkitei maritime strike variant for operation by the Akitei Navy. Equipped for use with standoff anti-shipping missiles, mines, depth charges and air-launched rocket torpedoes. Replaced by the Type 06 Kai heavy bomber


 * Kurogane/Dongfang Type 04 Maritime Patrol Bomber
 * Specialised subsonic maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare variant. Equipped for use with a magnetic anomaly detector, sonobuoys, naval mines, depth charges and anti-submarine torpedoes


 * Kurogane/Dongfang Type 06 Recon-Pathfinder Bomber
 * Modified supersonic variant for high altitude and long range photo-reconnaissance and pathfinding


 * Kurogane/Dongfang H.50ZH-1
 * ZH = 戰略轟炸機; Zhànlüè Hōngzhàjī ("Strategic Bomber")
 * Initial production strategic bomber variant of the H.50 with new extensively redesigned, area ruled fuselage from the H.47 upon which it was based, introduced in 1964.


 * Kurogane/Dongfang H.50XDZ
 * X = 巡邏; Xúnluó ("Patrol"), DZ = 導彈載體; Dǎodàn Zàitǐ ("Missile Carrier")
 * Air-launch ballistic missile carrier variant. Equipped for standing patrols of up to fourteen hours carrying two or four air-launch ballistic missiles, introduced in late 1960s.


 * Kurogane/Dongfang H.50ZH-2
 * ZH = 戰略轟炸機; Zhànlüè Hōngzhàjī ("Strategic Bomber")
 * Upgraded production strategic bomber variant of the H.50 with new equipped with newer avionics and bombing navigational systems, Deliveries were delayed due to avionics issues. But the type was introduced in the late-1970s.


 * Kurogane/Dongfang H.50DF
 * F = 反潛; Fǎnqián ("Anti-submarine"), D = 地雷层; Dìléi céng ("Mine layer")
 * Anti-ship missile carrier variant. Equipped for use with standoff anti-shipping missiles, mines, depth charges and air-launched rocket torpedoes, introduced in early 1970s.


 * Kurogane/Dongfang H.50ZH-3
 * ZH = 戰略轟炸機; Zhànlüè Hōngzhàjī ("Strategic Bomber")
 * Modernization production strategic bomber variant of the H.50 with new equipped with newer avionics and bombing navigational systems, introduced in the mid-1980s.


 * Kurogane/Dongfang H.50ZH-3X
 * ZH = 戰略轟炸機; Zhànlüè Hōngzhàjī ("Strategic Bomber"), X = 现代化 Xiàndàihuà ( "Modernization")
 * Current Kodeshi strategic bomber variant with full strike and combat abilities. This modernization of the ZH-3 with the installation of new more powerful engines and avionics systems, with a modern digital glass cockpit and engine controls, electronic warfare countermeasures, and the ability to use precision air-to-surface weapons. The Imperial Kodeshi Air Force, has XXX in active service.


 * Kurogane/Dongfang B.50 Spirit Dragon
 * Proposed international export variant.

Operators
 Akiteiwa  Kodeshia
 * Akiteiwa Imperial and Royal Air Force: has operated Type 06s since 1964. The ARAF has the Type 06s in active service.
 * Imperial Kodeshi Air Force: has operated H.50s since 1964. The IKAF has the H.50GZ in active service.