[Development] Qing-6: Blue Bird - News

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Qing-6: Blue Bird

29 August 2025 Development

Meet the Soviet Be-6 flying boat with new turboprop engines in PLA Air Force service!

Qing-6: A Premium Bomber for China at Rank IV

At a glance:

Up to 4 tons of bombs
Defensive armament of five 23 mm cannons!
Turboprop engines
Decent handling
Vulnerable to attacks from behind and below

The Qing-6 is a Chinese modification of the Soviet Be-6 flying boat, created by the Beriev Design Bureau. Development of the aircraft began in 1943, and the first flight of the prototype took place in 1945. The production variant was accepted into service in 1951 and differed from the prototype due to its more powerful ASh-73 engines and enhanced 23 mm NR-23 cannons instead of UBT machine guns. The Be-6 was intended for maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine operations, patrolling, cargo transportation and mine laying. In total, about 120 of these aircraft were built in the USSR from 1949 to 1957.

In the 1950s, China received several Be-6 aircraft to equip its naval forces. In the 1970s, due to the engines reaching end of service life, Chinese engineers carried out a major modernization of the aircraft. They replaced the ASh-73 piston engines with upgraded turboprop engines, which improved the aircraft’s flight characteristics and reliability. The modernized variant was designated Qing-6, and remained in service until the late 1990s.

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Introducing the Qing-6!

In War Thunder’s next major update, China will receive its own version of the Be-6 flying boat, coming to the game as a premium for Golden Eagles. One of the most interesting and effective floatplanes in the game is getting new engines, while retaining its main advantages: an excellent payload and powerful defensive weaponry. Let’s take a look at the Qing-6!

In addition to the dark blue livery, the main difference between the Qing-6 and Be-6 is upgraded Chinese-made turboprop engines. These engines are not going to make this massive plane as fast as a jet, but a speed of over 520 km/h after dropping its bombs is already quite good! It’s also worth noting the comparatively good control of the Qing-6 for its size, which helps to accurately bomb targets and perform defensive maneuvers.

The bomb loadout has also changed, somewhat! When flying this large plane, you’ll now have access to 250 kg incendiary bombs. Next to this, the familiar bomb loadouts are available: eight 250 kg, two 1500 kg bombs, a pair of torpedoes for naval battles, and the most popular loadout of eight 500 kg bombs, allowing you to destroy several bases in Air Battles in a single sortie!

Did you know? The Qing-6 is the only Chinese plane designated as “Qing”, while other Chinese military planes are generally named after the type of the aircraft.

One of the Qing-6’s trump cards is its defensive armament. Five 23 mm autocannons in three turrets! This is a very impressive deterrent against enemy fighters, who may be tempted by the Qing-6’s apparent slowness and large size. Here’s two pieces of advice for future pilots: avoid attacks on your aircraft from below and behind, as the turrets in this area cannot fire. Try to let the enemy get closer, ideally in the upper rear area so that you can unleash the powerful defense guns at once!

So, that’s it for today. We’re eagerly awaiting the Qing-6, which will become China’s first premium medium-range bomber, significantly helping pilots research the Chinese air tree from rank I to rank V a lot faster. We hope you enjoy this fan favorite aircraft upon the release of the next major update, and we’ll see you soon for more!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.