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

ACuriousPLAFan said:

If the capacity allows (or more like regardless of), there should only be one major platform for land-attack/anti-ship-focused missions, not two.

Also, the JH-7/A was born in the era where China finds itself severely lacking in the department of land attack and anti-ship capabilities that doesn't require deploying H-6s every time.

Now, with rapidly growing numbers of J-16s in service and with J-36 + new strike UCAVs arriving in the future, there is no longer any need for a new "JH" fighter-bomber type of warplane.

Click to expand...

JH-7a is covered by J-16 in range, speed and payload indeed. Replacement of JH-7a is more or less booked already with J-16 and J-15 variants.

Only thing needed is a longer range platform to replace H-6 multiple missions profiles. H-20 will probably fill some of these missions profiles but I'm pretty sure there's a gap to fulfill with a new airframe. I cannot see them replacing all H-6 workhorses with 4 engines stealth bomber. When a clear H-20 design will emerge we will be able to sort out things.

Atomicfrog said:

JH-7a is covered by J-16 in range, speed and payload indeed. Replacement of JH-7a is more or less booked already with J-16 and J-15 variants.

Only thing needed is a longer range platform to replace H-6 multiple missions profiles. H-20 will probably fill some of these missions profiles but I'm pretty sure there's a gap to fulfill with a new airframe. I cannot see them replacing all H-6 workhorses with 4 engines stealth bomber. When a clear H-20 design will emerge we will be able to sort out things.

Click to expand...

I don't think there's a gap between the J-36 and the H-20 that needs to be filled by some other warplane models.

Besides, from the lessons of following Chinese 6th-gen developments until their first flights - Until we see the actual thing flying above Yanliang, I don't think we can be certain that the H-20 will definitely be powered by 4x non-AB WS-10/15 engines. Who knows if Xi'an AC also took some inspiration from Chengdu AC, and makes a three-engine H-20 instead?

Just some brain farts:

For both proposals, the following assumptions apply:
1. Have the same simple/beaked flying wing design,
2. Have dorsal intakes for all engines,
3. Be able to carry the same missiles (albeit with the E4 being able to carry more of the same missiles than the E3), and
4. Have the same unrefueled combat radius (up to around 2.5IC).

4-engine supersonic - H20

Orcs & Ayi imply

sutton999 said:

View attachment 143048

4-engine supersonic - H20

Orcs & Ayi imply

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...

@latenlazy this will be a big one if true.

If they really do 4 WS-15 without afterburners, then supersonic cruise might be one reason for this. Even if it's like a low supersonic cruise. They can always do 2 engine subsonic cruise to save gas if it's not otherwise required.

Taking a look at Tu-22M


It had MTOW of 126t and 2 engines with about 248kN in thrust each.

So if 4 WS-15 provides 480kN of dry thrust, then such H-20 can be 120t or greater in MTOW and still cruise at supersonic speed.

Maybe it can have even higher MTOW than that?

With modern material science, it can surely carry a lot more fuel.

tphuang said:

@latenlazy this will be a big one if true.

If they really do 4 WS-15 without afterburners, then supersonic cruise might be one reason for this. Even if it's like a low supersonic cruise. They can always do 2 engine subsonic cruise to save gas if it's not otherwise required.

Taking a look at Tu-22M

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

It had MTOW of 126t and 2 engines with about 248kN in thrust each.

So if 4 WS-15 provides 480kN of dry thrust, then such H-20 can be 120t or greater in MTOW and still cruise at supersonic speed.

Maybe it can have even higher MTOW than that?

With modern material science, it can surely carry a lot more fuel.

Click to expand...

One of the reasons not to do this was the increased signature, right? Then either PLA is not too concerned about the effect or then they plan to use supercruise away from enemy IADS (to increase sortie rates? To escape faster? To impart more energy on the weapons?).

Is this real?
【真的来了吗？太燃了！-哔哩哔哩】
Apparently 3 "H20s" flying.

Can't tell anything. Maybe it is the B2 and the video was taken in the US. If it is real, then so far nothing concrete except for a flying wing design a-la B2.