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Another H-6 tanker, possibly called H-6U, differs quite distinct from other H-6es. Up until the late 1990s, all Chinese Badgers had glazed noses for visual bombing and navigation and a chin-mounted radar. The H-6 tanker displayed at the parade over Beijing however had a solid nose and no chin radome. Since H-6Ds rebuilt to tanker configuration kept their big radomes, and because of a photo released from XAC's production line, it seems these are actually new airframes from a re-opened production line. This would mean that the H-6 remains in production some 50 years after the prototype Tu-16 (or Tu-88 as it was called back then) made its first flight!

It remains to be seen what the exact nature of China's refueling fleet will be. Although a number of J-8II are being modified to J-8D standard with refueling probe, and the Su-30MKK which delivery is in progress has a standard refueling capability, the number of aircraft actually capable to receive fuel from an H-6 tanker is still very low. In addition to this, the amount of fuel a H-6U can transfer isn't particularly high - this is even more striking when one considers a Su-30 takes on about as much fuel as an H-6! The tanker will certainly be suitable to extend the practical range of a combat aircraft by 'topping of' the fuel tanks, it does not give the PLAAF a true strategic strike capability. Of course, the aircraft also provides pilots with precious experience in air-to-air refueling.

In Soviet service, the Tu-16 proved itself to be a useful electronic warfare platform and a handful of versions served in this role. A Chinese electronic warfare version has been shown in model form as well, although there is nothing much known about the status of the project. Since the model was shown together with other aircraft known to be flying, the conclusion might be drawn that at least a testbed has entered the flying stage. Most noteworthy features of the model are a long canoe-shaped radome on the lower fuselage, a solid nose, and an extra antennae fairing on top of the fuselage. This latter might suggest a Satcom datalink. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the exact mission or even existence of this EW H-6. It could serve in the ELINT role just like the 'civilian' China United Airlines Tu-154MD, but an offensive ECM role is also a possibility. As the model has a solid nosecone as seen on the 'new' H-6U tankers and on the production line, it would seem that this version is also based on newly-built airframes.

Calling the design of the H-6 obsolete would be by no means a euphemism. Despite this, the PLA has finally realized that an aircraft of this size can easily be adapted for a number of roles required in any modern conflict. In a sense, the recent adaptation for modern roles of this 1950s bomber clearly illustrates the new doctrine of PLA policy makers.