I doubt the new photos can be treated as any leak, deliberately or accidently. The simulator and cockpit mockup are no more revealing than the Bomber model in SAC's showroom. I think PLA has become relatively relaxed in the programs they are doing or were doing, so long as the true progress and real thing is in not revealed.
H-20 bomber (with H-X, JH-XX)
- Thread starter Deino
- Start date
SinoSoldier
Colonel
This is getting interesting. According to one of the forum-ers observing this development, the WeChat chat/message regarding the SAC photo (with the suspected bomber cockpit) has been deleted.
Could this mockup being this one? However, even if it is, it does not necessarily mean it is under development. It could be that the project is terminated, but assets are left for education purpose, like flight simulator, after all it is the school.
Yes I believe the cockpit/nose mock up most likely reflects closely to that model -- aka the "JH-XX" concept
IMO based on the info on the last two pages, I think there is a very good chance if not confirmed that the photo was taken at SAC or an affiliate.
The question now is whether the cockpit/nose mock up is for a project that was abandoned or not (aka whether or not it is still being worked on).... and I suppose from there, whether it is of the same "JH-XX" model we saw before.
I won't take huitong's word as gospel on this one, because he seems to not be particularly sure himself. A couple years back he listed the "H-18" using the same image of the JH-XX model's silhouette.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
A couple of new reveals/rumors regarding the JH-XX project, although I do not know how credible these are. They were posted by "苏明的真理信念".
Summary: (correct if inaccurate)
Summary: (correct if inaccurate)
- SAC is suffering from a shortage of manpower due to the pre-research team taking back-to-back vacations during the holiday season.
- The bomber's designation is H-17 (allegedly as per official reports).
- The bomber represents a "stealthy platypus" - possibly a reference to a stealthy Su-34-style design. Another but lesser possibility would be an enlarged YF-23-style design.
- Project is currently in the pre-research phase, but the general layout has been completed and simulations completed.
- Engine configuration would be either twin WS-15/10 or quadruple WS-19.
- The final go-ahead for full-scale development has not been received yet.
- The fate of the improved versions of the J-11, J-15, and J-16 remain uncertain.
- The biggest project at SAC right now could be the 5th-generation carrier-based fighter.
- The PLAAF's follow-on 5th generation fighter will also be from CAC.
- SAC's fighters apparently cost less than 1/2 of CAC's fighters.
The holiday thing is presented as a compliment to SAC whose research team successfully finished the requisite materials for a project commissioning despite being disrupted by consecutive holidays and a lack of precedence within China for that particular project.
SAC fighters are also not half the cost of CAC fighters. The passage is idiomatic in nature, saying that SAC's fighter design capabilities aren't half as good as CAC's so they're trying to scrounge projects like strategic bombers and strikers from XAC. However, between the strategic H-20 and tactical JH-20, it's uncertain if there is a need for a stratical H-17.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Thanks for the corrections. What does the passage say about the next-gen carrier-based fighter and the J-11/15/16 upgrades?
Flanker series (SAC's cash cow) won't see many variants in the long term. The PLAAF's next-gen fighters have mostly been awarded to CAC so the PLANAF's carrier-borne 4th-gen is basically the only remaining big fighter tender. If SAC doesn't get it..... well.....
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Your guess is as good as mine. I haven't a clue.
Thanks. So, SAC is pretty much screwed if turns out that the naval tender went to CAC, now that its biggest gravy train is coming to an end. I thought that OP implied that the naval tender is currently SAC's biggest project, rather than it being unclaimed by either CAC or SAC?