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

Inst said:

Do we have any rumors on sensor systems of the H-20? The issue with the H-20 isn't that it should match the B-2, but rather that it should match the B-21. If the latter turns out to be a capable stealth AEW&C craft for F-35s, Chinese air superiority dreams are in big trouble.

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My expectation is that the true next generation of AEW are going to be based off Unmanned aircraft using datalinks as opposed to manned. World wide there is a shortage of pilots, and data links are more secure than voice.
If B21 or H20 want to multi role there size in my opinion would be better suited to a low observable tanker.
The bomb bay should have plenty of space for additional fuel, pumps and a retractable refueling station. Being LO they could come closer to enemy airspace and tank 5th and eventual 6th gens with reduced risk. Obviously not over hostile airspace. But closer to it the a transport or passenger liner derived hull.
Of course no one has built either of these... That we know of. It has been proposed there have also been proposed stealthy transport aircraft for special ops infiltration and exfiltration but other than the stealthhawk no known.

Viktor Jav said:

Any radar the future H-20 bomber will have will likely be one that is geared specifically towards surface mapping and targeting. So we may be looking at a synthetic-aperture radar or maybe even a simpler surface search radar like the one we see on the Y-8 ASW variant.

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More complicated than that in the Y8. Remember stealthy aircraft have to do more than reduce there radar returns they also have to reduce there emissions as well.
You can have virtually no signature reflection but if it's blasting out it's its own signals across the EM band width it defeats the point.
Stealths have gotten around this in two ways. 1 having no radar. Or 2 having a very specialized radar.
The former is more of first gen low observable like the F117 and early on for B2. The latter is more the rule. The radar and data links of fighters like F22 And F35 are designed to combine images from wingman in them formation as well as jump frequencys and change modes from active to passive. This makes them harder to lock in on.
A Stealth bomber is more of a loner but plays similar tricks with its radar.

When people say the B-21 is a sensor shooter, what they mean is that it'd likely employ a large, long-range IR or optical sensor.to locate enemy stealth aircraft while having a minimal radar and IR signature itself. A radar module for the multi-mode B-21 is possible, but likely not a priority given how expensive a bomber-scale radar would be and the fact that the radar would make the B-21 easily trackable.

Plot twist?

The report from the DIA has some direct implications for the thread:

The intelligence report said China is developing new medium- and long-range stealth bombers capable of striking regional and global targets.

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Also states in some areas, China is the most advanced in miltech surpassing its rivals.

Inst said:

When people say the B-21 is a sensor shooter, what they mean is that it'd likely employ a large, long-range IR or optical sensor.to locate enemy stealth aircraft while having a minimal radar and IR signature itself. A radar module for the multi-mode B-21 is possible, but likely not a priority given how expensive a bomber-scale radar would be and the fact that the radar would make the B-21 easily trackable.

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Again LPIR radar comes in here as it changes frequencys and a verify of tricks in its arsenal to keep from being easily seen.
Optical sensors have limits. Due to environmental factors of rage reliability.
B21 is a bomber not a fighter same for H20.
It's not supposed to be hunting. It's supposed to be bombing. So the main mission is defence and navigation.
It needs the ability to traverse terrain to a target. Ensure it is on track for that target and release the weapons.

TerraN_EmpirE said:

Again LPIR radar comes in here as it changes frequencys and a verify of tricks in its arsenal to keep from being easily seen.

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Lrip and high definition terrain mapping?
Choose one at the same time.

TerraN_EmpirE said:

and early on for B2.

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B-2 always had a radar from day one, though. And it was an incredible radar, easily easily one of its key features, as important as the stealth itself.

Look up the modular payloads of the B-21; the B-21 is apparently intended to be multi-role and flexible. One of its rumored roles is as an interceptor, which would not be unprecedented, given that the F-117 was actually a bomber.

As for LPI, LPI isn't foolproof, it just makes it very difficult for aircraft without fully up-to-date gear to effectively track LPI aircraft.

anzha said:

Plot twist?

The report from the DIA has some direct implications for the thread:

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Also states in some areas, China is the most advanced in miltech surpassing its rivals.

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Quotes from the :

The PLAAF is developing new medium- and long-range stealth bombers to strike regional and global targets. Stealth technology continues to play a key role in the development of these new bombers, which probably will reach initial operational capability no sooner than 2025. These new bombers will have additional capabilities, with full-spectrum upgrades compared with current operational bomber fleets, and will employ many fifth-generation fighter technologies in their design.

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You can read this as the US DoD thinks that there's a chance that the H-20 will have at least EODAS, if not a full-scale long-range optical sensor.

As for the B-21, if it reaches 70,000 feet cruising, the line to the horizon would be roughly 520 km long. This gives it reasonable IR detection of enemies, while being stealthy enough in IR and EM to avoid detection.

Klon said:

Quotes from the

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:

View attachment 50750

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The report (well, the pictorial at least) seems surprisingly accurate, down to the fact that the J-10B has no AESA radar unlike the J-10C.

The interesting part is that the report is the first official US document confirming the adoption & development of the FC-31 for military purposes. There have been a few scattered rumors that the PLAAF, in addition to the PLAN, is also looking to buy the FC-31, and this could be an indication of that. But again, the report uses the "J-31" designation so I'm not sure how credible or accurate the Defense Intelligence Agency really is.

Inst said:

One of its rumored roles is as an interceptor, which would not be unprecedented, given that the F-117 was actually a bomber

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F117 was always a bomber. Never an interceptor. The F was always misleading but then again you had the F111 too. Again not a fighter a bomber.
B21 is subsonic. It's a bomber not a fighter not a interceptor.
The modular payload idea has been floated but primarily for air to ground not air to air. surveillance has been the most vocal pitch not interceptor of fighters but rather hunting enemy surface targets naval or ground.
The USAF has also had a requirement for a Low Observable tanker and potentially drone mother ship.
An IR or any long range DAS on it would likely be more to avoid contact, although it might be able to distribute data to friendly fighters those contacts would still be relatively close. One of the issues with IRST that limits them is background signals like stars and other false positives. That said the DAD system has been said to be able to track ballistic missiles from long range.

Gloire_bb said:

Lrip and high definition terrain mapping?
Choose one at the same time.

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The Tacit Blue demonstrator from Northrop Grumman was an aircraft intended to take the role that ended up being JSTARS except as a low observable.
It had a LPIR ground surveillance system.
RQ170 was said to be developed from the same idea.
Those systems gathered high quality ground imagery and terrain data so yes it could.