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.
China must have super huge military build up. Without military might the war mongers in Pentagon would have done their easy job of destroying China with nuclear weapons. Now that China is mighty, USA would not dare.
Wood Wu You are right.
what pains the development of a country is the suspicion of those who ever stand against it.
They should lower their suspicion if they are peace makers.
that’s it
Because what you do unto others should be done unto you. The US has bombed around thirty countries just since the second world war and is getting ready to bomb Iran. Of course the US should be bombed. The US deserves to look like Iraq or Yeman.
Because what you do unto others should be done unto you. The US has bombed around thirty countries just since the second world war and is getting ready to bomb Iran. Of course the US should be bombed. The US deserves to look like Iraq or Yeman.
Mugendi Njoki Well said.
Mugendi Njoki Well said.
Wood Wu before discuss any further be wise see history, why is WWW1 and WWW2 is happen, see why west colonised world in the early Industrial wave, why colonised harmony east; deivided china with colonised county. I see you don’t know history at all or see history and news by western view
History is a refrection of what happen today, you dont judge if know nothing about it
Yes I agree with buddy frank
Wood Wu I am not agree with you you are not chinese.
Wow! There is already a H20 prototype! The H20 will deter callous irresponsible US neocons from starting a war.
We are all tired of the constant intimidation and prosponsible vocations of B52s and B1 bombers flying into Asia, US military bases surronding Asia, missile cruisers, carrier battlegroups and submarines prowling around etc. on the mistaken belief that the US homeland will not be devastated in a war
Mon Mah pls show any evident facts that US make weapons for peace process.
Every country buys or develop weapons with an enemy in mind. USA is the single biggest enemy to world’s peace and all their annual multibillion weapon systems are usually put in place with an ‘enemy’ in mind. It’s no rocket science that US weapons over the years have been developed with their enemy in mind being Russia but China has since managed to join the quagmire and thus must also be prepared for any possible altercation with the ‘enemy’ US.
Ken Nguyen He’s what their American Intelligence agencies are baptising to ‘Russian Bots’.
Romeo Mangubat I do not want any war, I want peace in the world but how do we get to peace when countries are using double standard now and then?
Kim jon will make world more peaceful dont worry u Americans
Peace like in iraq, afghanistn, syria, ww2 japan,vietnam ????
Michael Collins Negroe Snr is an evil genius. He wants war.
The role of global police of some super power prompts China to enhance its arsenal. Boasting of air supremacy and double standard mindset is another cause.Poking nose into everybodys affairs hagemonic attitude which is not your concern promotes the notion of competetion in lethal weaponary and revenge mentality.Gone are the days that your say will be final with petering out economic superiority when rising trend of others is looming large in the horizon.
Really, is that your understanding, so what was Vietnam, Iran, afganistan, Iraq, Libya and other’s, don’t be a hypocrite call it for what it is, and you will feel good about yourself
China is making a joke! China wont be able to reach u.s for the kind of aircraf, and if it reaches u.s soil and fire a bond, definitely ww3 will be started. Chinese people wont be able to escape from the back fire if happened. XI JING PING MUST be careful of what his doing. Uour president xi jing ping is same as the pres. Of n. Korea.