Tag Team: China Is Developing Two Sixth-Gen Stealth Bombers

China is reportedly developing two stealth bombers: the H-20 strategic bomber and the JH-XX tactical bomber. If China is able to complete both projects, the military implications for the region could be significant, giving China a tool that until now only the Americans have possessed.

Stealth bomber

Only one country has ever developed and fielded a stealth bomber – the USA and its B-2 Spirit. And when the B-2 was first delivered, in 1993, the aircraft was a legitimate game changer. Suddenly, the US possessed the ability to fly undetected, over enemy lines, and deliver either nuclear or conventional weapons; The B-2 added another layer of sophistication to the US nuclear triad, which made up America’s nuclear deterrence strategy.

Times have changed though. The B-2’s stealth technology is no longer cutting edge; its radar cross section is no longer that impressive. Air defense systems became more sensitive, challenging the B-2’s ability to operate undetected. Accordingly, the Air Force is working on an updated stealth bomber, the B-21, which will likely have a smaller RCS.

Still to be respected: the B-2 was ahead of its time; more than thirty years later, no nation has offered equivalent technology. But now China is reportedly working on just that, with not one stealth bomber, but two.

China’s efforts

Little is known about China’s efforts to introduce a stealth bomber. Details are extremely scarce. But what is implied is that the H-20 project will offer a strategic option while the JH-XX will offer a tactical option. What does that mean? The H-20 will have a longer combat radius, possibly more than 5,000 miles, and will have advanced radar systems like AESA. The H-20 would serve in a similar capacity to the B-2, giving the Chinese a credible method of delivering nuclear weapons by air, thus creating a credible nuclear triad.

Meanwhile, the JH-XX can be expected to have similar features, but will be a smaller, regionally focused bomber that could incorporate fifth generation fighter technologies, i.e. thrust vectoring, data fusion, networking, supercruise and internal weapons bay. Admittedly, that’s not much to go on. Nevertheless, the existence of the project was confirmed through official channels; according to the Defense Intelligence Agency’s 2019 Chinese Military Power Report, “PLAF [ People’s Liberation Army Air Force] is developing new medium- and long-range stealth bombers to engage regional and global targets…stealth technology continues to play a key role in the development of these new bombers, which are likely to reach initial operational capability before 2025.”

The report added that the JH-XX “will have additional capabilities, with full-spectrum upgrades compared to current operational bomber fleets, and will use many fifth-generation fighter technologies in its design.” That’s not much to go on. The significant takeaway is simply that the Chinese are working on a stealth bomber, an ambition that is consistent with Xi’s overarching ambition to bolster China’s military might and revisionism.

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with more than 1,000 articles on issues involving global issues. A lawyer, pilot, guitarist and minor professional hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a trainee pilot but was medically discharged. Harrison received his BA from Lake Forest College, his PhD from the University of Oregon, and his MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.