Just to slide in a bit regarding the question on the need of H-20 for mid-air refueling during long-range/expeditionary strike missions in the Pacific.
For the ease of discussion for us normies/laymen, let's assume that the H-20 can achieve broadly similar parameters to the B-2 Spirit (based on what we do know about the H-20 so far, i.e. VLO, 4x non-afterburning turbofan engines, ~20-25 tons of payload, ~11000-12000 kilometers of range, etc).
Then, let's assume that the combat radius of the H-20 with:
1. Substantial amount of payload onboard, and
2. Using internal fuel load only, with
3. No mid-air refueling throughout the entire journey -
Is one-third of its stated range, which is 3666 kilometers - Or 3600 kilometers by disregarding discrepancies.
Here's what a 3600-kilometer combat radius looks like, with the H-20 taking-off from Changsha:
And here's what the outer reach of the H-20's combat radius looks like, relative to Guam:
Sure, the H-20's 3600-kilometer combat radius from Changsha with internal fuel load alone is insufficient to fly right over Guam - But the outer boundary of said combat radius is barely 100 kilometers away from Guam itself.
100 kilometers is a distance that can be covered even with glide bombs released at high altitudes, such as the AGM-154 with a 120-kilometer strike range. With standoff missiles like the KD-20 with ~2000 kilometers of effective strike range, the H-20 probably doesn't even need to go beyond ~1000-1500 kilometers of the Chinese coastline in order to strike Guam.
On the other hand, if the H-20 is based somewhere closer to the Chinese coastline than Changsha, then flying directly over Guam to drop full-gravity payloads is certainly possible.
(Note that Changsha is chosen due to its proximity (at least 650 kilometers away) from the Chinese coastline, which should provide (more than) enough protection buffer by the PLA's land-based SAM systems from enemy missile attacks.)
Therefore, I would say that other than the targets on New Guinea, northern Australia, the 3rd Island Chain and beyond - Literally everything within and along (most of) the 2nd Island Chain can be reached by H-20 with substantial amount of payload onboard, and without refueling mid-route.
For the ease of discussion for us normies/laymen, let's assume that the H-20 can achieve broadly similar parameters to the B-2 Spirit (based on what we do know about the H-20 so far, i.e. VLO, 4x non-afterburning turbofan engines, ~20-25 tons of payload, ~11000-12000 kilometers of range, etc).
Then, let's assume that the combat radius of the H-20 with:
1. Substantial amount of payload onboard, and
2. Using internal fuel load only, with
3. No mid-air refueling throughout the entire journey -
Is one-third of its stated range, which is 3666 kilometers - Or 3600 kilometers by disregarding discrepancies.
Here's what a 3600-kilometer combat radius looks like, with the H-20 taking-off from Changsha:
And here's what the outer reach of the H-20's combat radius looks like, relative to Guam:
Sure, the H-20's 3600-kilometer combat radius from Changsha with internal fuel load alone is insufficient to fly right over Guam - But the outer boundary of said combat radius is barely 100 kilometers away from Guam itself.
100 kilometers is a distance that can be covered even with glide bombs released at high altitudes, such as the AGM-154 with a 120-kilometer strike range. With standoff missiles like the KD-20 with ~2000 kilometers of effective strike range, the H-20 probably doesn't even need to go beyond ~1000-1500 kilometers of the Chinese coastline in order to strike Guam.
On the other hand, if the H-20 is based somewhere closer to the Chinese coastline than Changsha, then flying directly over Guam to drop full-gravity payloads is certainly possible.
(Note that Changsha is chosen due to its proximity (at least 650 kilometers away) from the Chinese coastline, which should provide (more than) enough protection buffer by the PLA's land-based SAM systems from enemy missile attacks.)
Therefore, I would say that other than the targets on New Guinea, northern Australia, the 3rd Island Chain and beyond - Literally everything within and along (most of) the 2nd Island Chain can be reached by H-20 with substantial amount of payload onboard, and without refueling mid-route.
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