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

SinoSoldier

Colonel
I wonder which one out of LRS-B, PAK-DA and H-Xwill make its maiden flight first...

To be fair, it would seem that the H-X is further along in development than the other bombers (although we don't have much information regarding the PAK-DA). The LRS-B contract has not yet been awarded and it would take at least a couple of years after that before a prototype can be worked on. If the recent rumor is true and that parts are indeed being manufactured for the first prototype, then we might be looking at potentially a year or so, at most, before the first unit takes flight (i.e. late 2016).
 

Blitzo

General
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To be fair, it would seem that the H-X is further along in development than the other bombers (although we don't have much information regarding the PAK-DA). The LRS-B contract has not yet been awarded and it would take at least a couple of years after that before a prototype can be worked on. If the recent rumor is true and that parts are indeed being manufactured for the first prototype, then we might be looking at potentially a year or so, at most, before the first unit takes flight (i.e. late 2016).

Who knows.

Beginning to fabricate parts still leaves a long time to construct the plane itself. I'd be surprised if H-X flies by late 2016. Maybe 2017.

There have been consistent rumours of LRS-B contenders flying their own in house demonstrators, and as a PLA watching forum we don't really have up to date information on Russian military developments.

The game is still open, I think
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
It's a Wait and see game. We have heard the hype from the PRC and the Russians but the track record is not that great, The US is more of a Guarantee that it will produce one after that?
 

Blitzo

General
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It's a Wait and see game. We have heard the hype from the PRC and the Russians but the track record is not that great, The US is more of a Guarantee that it will produce one after that?

Not sure about the Russians, but I think China's track record for these kind of projects is quite good. J-XX/J-20, Y-XX/Y-20, were all fairly important and high profile projects with long term dribs and drabs of rumours that turned out to be fairly accurate.

I'd place H-X rumours at a similar stage to where the rumours of J-XX were circa 2007 or 2008.
 

Blitzo

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More important is the question of how big it is. I'm still betting on a "regional bomber" suitable for operating throughout the first and second island chains, rather than a true intercontinental strategic bomber.

Rumours from the last few years are unchanged in claiming 4 WS-10s without afterburner, which would definitely put it in B-2 intercontinental weight class, but it might change.

More interesting is that the latest LRS-B discussion suggests a bomber smaller than B-2, possibly only half its size, powered by a pair of F135s. That would make it more of a regional bomber than an intercontinental bomber -- or OTOH it could mean an intercontinental bomber but with a meanignfully smaller payload than a B-2.


I'm also interested in whether the project for the supersonic capable stealthy bomber concept (from SAC?) has been shelved or not, because it appeared to have been the size of a regional bomber
 
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