The development of China’s new heavy strategic bomber, coded H-20, has been going on for five straight years, with the mechanical master design believed to have been finalized.
Beijing wants its H-20 to be able to fly close to the west coast of the United States, and from there fire conventional or nuclear cruise missiles against US targets.
Thus the H-20 has to be a giant leap forward from the People’s Liberation Army’s currently fleet of H-6 bombers, whose bulky airframe and limited range have been a big drag on its strike capabilities.
Analysts say the H-20’s operational radius must reach 5,000 kilometers, while also having a payload capacity of 25-30 tons so as to carry multiple missiles, such as KD-20s, the air-launched variant of the CJ-10. The engine is thus a vital determinant.
The H-20 must be able to fly close enough to US soil to be within the range of the KD-20 missiles, while making sure it won’t appear on the US military’s long-range radars.
Therefore, the key is its stealth design and coating, which in turn could get inspiration from the design of China’s new J-20 jet fighters, which entered service this year.
Chinese technicians have also been keen on learning more about the Soviet-made Tupolev Tu-160 Belyy Lebed supersonic bomber, spying on its design even after Moscow marshaled all functional Tu-160s out of Ukraine for security reasons, according to Kanwa Defense Review.
Thus it won’t come as a surprise should the final design of the H-20 bear some resemblance to the Soviet bomber.
While the H-20 has been quietly taking shape thanks to ample funding, observers say the US west coast may still be t0o far away as the Chinese bomber may require at least one aerial refueling above the Pacific, as there’s no shortcut to reach the US from any airbase in east or central China. And it is hard to keep an aerial refueling aircraft stealthy, so it is susceptible to interception.
Russian bombers, on the other hand, can fly the much shorter north polar route to reach the contiguous US.
Still, the H-20 will be able to bomb US overseas territories such as Hawaii, Guam and Saipan.
Oyetunji Jimoh You are right brother
What peace has US maintained in Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and the lists go on…
Use your brain if you have one.
Buddy Frank
I doubt Taiwan will ‘see the light’. I have never met an under-50 Taiwanese that is pro-Communist. In fact, I have never heard anyone say positive things about Mainland Chinese. They seem to be generally viewed as rude, crude, close-minded sheep. Made-in-China has the same connotation for Taiwanese as it does for North Americans.
If Taiwan ever becomes part of Communist China it will probably be as a result of either military action or the Taiwanese government going against the will of the people.
US make enhance weapon to maintain peace: words from the mouths of the worlds hypocrites.
This is only in words
china make weapon to target US.. US make enhance weapon to maintain peace..
Calm before the storm
Michael Collins Negroe Snr
Very well reasoned and perfectly logical! The world must stand up and be counted with determination /Self preservation. Relying on others is just second best with a heavy cost/conditions/dignity discount.
-gerald gunther Your comparison to a "Mao-style" war that "cost of millions of Chinese civilians" is truly ridiculous! What "Mao-style" war cost millions of Chinese civilians? Don’t always regurgitate everything you’ve been fed by whacko liars who never could provide proof for their dumb claims.
No news is bad news for some peoples. Just relax,live and made moneys
But why should the USA be bombed? Someone explain to me.
Wu,,, I am wondering whether you know that. PROC and POC taiwan are seriously engaged in a civil war until today while. POCtaiwan is. never never an independent entity that were recognized by the. world communities,. So nothing of your kind of.imagination will be heeded as no one. in this world being stupid to listen to your misleading info..so long kid,, may god bless
Maybe logical from a ‘western’ point of view but unlikely to happen. Rather, China may soon believe that it could ‘win’ such a war – Mao-style at the cost of millions of Chinese civilians.
sonny Asshat, The term worthless cretin comes to mind when you look as dumb as the words that you regurgitate from the state dept’s propaganda. Are you able to comprehend what I’m telling you, sonny boy? Good boy!
From one 「Wu’ian」 to another 「Wu’ian」: You sound as if 「中國人」 is fearful of WAR. Now, while all people loaths war and social destruction, i think it might surprise you to know that China had been in and out of war ever since the dawn of East Asian time and that that destiny had not stopped 「the Wu group if Asia」from the maintaining of its legacy as a mighty power even napoleon oversaw as far back as the 17 and 18 hundreds and that 「not even imperial Japan with all its poison and firepower WW2 days were able to bring down.
Buddy Frank …..The words American aggression in your narrative must mean seizing other country’s territory by America. If so, why these countries being threatened by American aggresion did not and do not say so? Not only they never said so, they also allow American soldiers to station in their countries. The American forces stationed around the world serve as a police force, to prevent loss of property.
The Chinese foreign minister Wang and all the rulers are very dumb to refuse to give up the South China Sea. They are dumb because they do not see the possibility for similar claims to come up. If China were allowed to own the SCS on ancestry reasons, other countries are entitled to do the same, using ancestry to claim ownership of the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, the Indian Ocean, ect. China will be obliged to support these claims. What would you say to the Chinese foreign minister and all the other rulers?
Michael Collins Negroe Snr ….You missed one critical point: expansion=seizing other people’s territories. When we take this point into our discussion we will naturally reach the conclusion that any country needs no military buildup. In the case of China, it faces no threat from another country as far as territory is concerned. Using the word defense as an excuse to build up military China is just covering up her true intention to expand. America sees it, other countries aroud the South China Sea see it, and even some European countries see it. Only you do not.
Of course I am Chinese. I want peace for my countrymen, not war.
Lol Wood Wu, don’t I find you quite sarcastic and full of self entitlement? First I got no idea whether you’re an American judging by your first name or a Chinese, against based on your second name. However that notwithstanding, all I don’t know is why would you ‘advise’ the Chinese to avoid war by giving up their territorial claims on Taiwan or their longstanding island disputes with her neighbours.
When exactly can a nation avoid a war in today’s world when the world is being dominated by imperialists purporting to be the moral watchmen of the world’s 7B population? How can China avoid war when the US is doing everything in its powers to sabotage the Chinese interests? How many foreign military bases do the Americans boast of in the whole world? Aren’t these Americans the very same people who’re ganging up alongside India, Japan and Australia to ‘neutralize’ the Chinese influence around the Pacific and the world? So why exactly would the Chinese be the ones to avoid war when they have done nothing wrong other than expanding their military for future preservations of the Chinese interests inside and around the world?
Something else that I’ve not and I’m yet to understand is why anyone, more so the United States would ask another country like North Korea to cease the nuclear program when they themselves do possess the very same weapons they’re preventing others from owning? Besides the US has for far too long been playing dangerous games with the future of the world. How they would turn a blind eye when their ME friends in Israel are developing nuclear weapons but strongly and sarcastically raise their voices loudest when Iran allegedly is adjudged to be making them is not only stupid but also portray a dangerous game of double standards being at play. Why let some have the weapons but prevent others from having them? Why in the first place does the world need the nukes for? N. Korea has already reiterated that their nukes are basically for deterrence purposes considering we have all seen how the US has over the years been attacking such countries that fail to adopt their imperialistic agendas and such countries are vilified everywhere.
The US has nukes, has bases in foreign countries so why be wary when another country develops the same appetite as them? They think that no other country in the world needs the nukes? So if true then why do you have them yourself? Why not get rid of them and then we can start talking of nukes when we all are the same? They don’t want Iran or N. Korea having them, what about theirs? What purpose are they meant to achieve? This is double standard and it should be rebuked by all. The world doesn’t need such weapons and consequently if they do have such long range bombers then any other country that wishes to have them then can go ahead and have for. Double standard antics should be shelved for goodness of the world’s people.
China certainly needs a huge military buildup to counter American aggression around the world, especially American aggression in Asia. As Foreign Minister Wang Yi said: "Giving up on South China Sea is a shame to their ancestors". This comment also applies to Taiwan. Of course, in time, Taiwan will see the light and return to China’s fold in the future on the own.
To avoid war, China must give up territorial expansion such as in the South China Sea. As a consequence, China needs no military buildup.