H-20 bomber (with H-X, JH-XX)

[MeiouHades]

Do we know the non-afterburning rating of the WS-15?

Probably not hard to estimate. I recall the new Su-57 engine is supposed to have a dry thrust of 110 kN, so probably higher than that since the J-20 is supposed to supercruise at a nice speed as well with WS-15s

 

[Nx4eu]

I’ve always been in the belief that H-20 could not be of the same size of the B-2 due to differing geographical and strategic constraints, using WS-18 derivative engines at first, while moving towards modern medium bypass engines as mentioned in a previous paper.

Look, I already did the calculations already for a B-2 flying wing type bomber with similar L/D ratios and similar thrust to weight. Using 4x WS-18 engines with a SFC of 0.68 kg/kgf-hr. A 260 tonnes flying wing with 118 tonnes fuel capacity and a 24 tonne payload should be able to fly 15,000 km to 17,000 km, with a conservative empty of weight of 118 tonnes (same as fuel load).

My original calculations were off using a SFC of 0.68 instead of the target 0.665 for the new engine which would give the theoretical bomber even further range, or make it smaller making 220-240T MTOW more likely IMO.

Possible objectives of the academic paper in question:

1. The warplane was to be powered by D-30KP-2/WS-18 at the beginning of the design, and they have already considered to replace them with new, target engines later on.
2. The paper discusses the methods of determining the performance parameters of the new, target engines without significantly altering the structure (of the warplane).
3. In fact, one major contribution of the paper is to explore the avenue of changing the engines without redesigning/reconfiguring the inlets and nozzles of the warplane.

Combined with these known 63m wide underground hangars at Neixiang Air base that completely dwarf the H-6 hangars. Feels like the information that H-20 would be multi-hundred ton bomber Is not as crazy as it sounds.

 

[Antares545]

what chances that it will use 4 ws-20 engines? would make sense for a 220-240t MTOW bomber

 

[Blitzo]

what chances that it will use 4 ws-20 engines? would make sense for a 220-240t MTOW bomber

Has been discussed before. Too wide, too high bypass for a stealthy flying wing.

The footprint is just all wrong.

 

[...........]

Can this thread be quiet until the h20 is actual spotted everytime i see this thread in bold letter I just sigh knowing is just chatting in the thread and I still click it cause I'm addicted

 

[ougoah]

what chances that it will use 4 ws-20 engines? would make sense for a 220-240t MTOW bomber

0% for WS-20 as is.

WS-20 simply doesn't fit, certainly not four of them.

non-afterburning, bypass optimised versions of WS-10 or even WS-15 are reasonably assumption. Lots of things competing for space so size constraint is the main factor in engine choice. Of course that depends on the actual size of the H-20 itself.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

There’s a big difference between “nothing to discuss because it’s pointless given too little is known”, and - “there’s nothing to discuss because everything is settled”. A flying wing or cranked kite, ranging from 170t to 230t MTOW, sits in the former category. Or are you just “settled” on a comparatively smaller range of permutations vis-à-vis 1 to 2 years ago?

Just like the three points which I've listed down in my previous response:

The most up-to-date information that we do have from the typically reliable/dependable sources on the Chinese internet so far can basically be summed up as follows:

- The H-20 is quite likely going to have a similar planform as the B-2 (i.e., pure flying wing), or some variants of it (e.g., some kind of cranked kite) if we want to keep our options open, which has been described as "could be disappointing to some PLA watchers/fanbois" by them;

- MTOW-wise, the H-20 is at least going to be as large as the B-2, if not somewhat larger (going by what they said about both the H-20 and the Sino C-5/An-124 having MTOWs in the "many 100s of tons" just recently);

- The H-20 is likely to appear before Zhuhai Expo 2026 at the earliest, and by the end of this decade at the latest.

We can only work on the discussion based on what we actually have at the current moment (which, admittedly, isn't a lot). So why bother lengthening the discussion with little to no fruitful results at the end, instead of just, you know, wait?

I for one am not “settled” with such variability (at least it’s great that subsonic isn’t one of them).

Then that's on you.

And to have delayed the program, then according to credible rumours, go through a design revision — just to end up back with a B-2 pure flying wing — seems a bit weird to me, but still plausible. Im also struggling to parse your first dot point - did they really say/imply that fanbois would be disappointed at a B-2 pure flying wing planform, or rather a subsonic planform?

Both. Or to be more accurate, just like what @Blitzo has explained previously (and what I've stated above).

 

[Blitzo]

Can this thread be quiet until the h20 is actual spotted everytime i see this thread in bold letter I just sigh knowing is just chatting in the thread and I still click it cause I'm addicted

No.
Unfortunately, this forum doesn't exist for the your own fulfillment.

 

[Gloire_bb]

They dont have a medium bypass engine of WS-10 or 15, medium bypass is what is typically used for Bombers.

Even assuming spinoff isn't created in time, there's also a temporary option of good old WS-18. Or, potentially, NK-32.

4 of the latter can lift monstrosity of a plane, until domestic engine is ready.

 

[zyklon]

Can this thread be quiet until the h20 is actual spotted everytime i see this thread in bold letter I just sigh knowing is just chatting in the thread and I still click it cause I'm addicted

If you (a) have the right credentials, (b) can be adjudicated for the requisite security clearance, and (c) hold citizenship in a country with one or more well resourced intelligence agencies tracking PLAAF developments, you can always get yourself a job as an intelligence analyst somewhere where you'll be privy to non-public information on the latest XAC H-20 developments.

Should you be blessed enough to be a freedom loving American, and also happen to be a loyal subject of our great and illustrious leader, Emperor . . . I mean President Trump, the right job at

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will definitely scratch that itch!

Turn that addiction into a profession, my dude!