A Big Mystery?: The Chinese JH-XX is a tactical stealth bomber reportedly under development alongside the strategic H-20 bomber, signaling China's ambition to enhance its aerial capabilities with two advanced stealth aircraft.
-While official details are scarce, the JH-XX is understood to be a smaller, regionally focused bomber incorporating fifth-generation fighter technologies like supercruise, thrust vectoring, internal weapons bays, low radar cross-sections, data fusion, and network connectivity.
-The H-20, by comparison, is expected to have a combat radius of 4,000 to 5,000 miles and advanced features such as an AESA radar. The introduction of these bombers could significantly bolster China's military strength and contribute to establishing a credible nuclear triad with an air-based delivery component.
Despite years of development, little is known about the Chinese JH-XX stealth bomber project. Reportedly, the JH-XX is a tactical stealth bomber program being developed in addition to the H-20 strategic bomber program, meaning that the Chinese are currently working on two stealth bomber programs.
The JH-XX is understood to be a, “smaller, regionally-focused stealthy bomber,” while the H-20 will be assigned longer-range targets.
The existence of the JH-XX program was acknowledged in the Defense Intelligence Agency’s 2019 China Military Power report. “The PLAAF [People’s Liberation Army Air Force] is developing new medium- and long-range stealth bombers to strike regional and global targets,” the report explained. “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.”
China has disclosed nearly nothing about the JH-XX program, leaving Western observers to speculate. The 2019 DIA report, for example, offered scant details about the JH-XX’s capabilities, stating only that “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.”
Fifth-generation fighter technologies include features like supercruise, thrust vectoring, internal weapons bay, low radar cross sections, data fusion, and network connectivity. To date, the only bomber with any of these fifth-generation features is the B-2 Spirit, the world’s only operational stealth bomber, which features an internal weapons bay and a low radar cross-section However, the crux of the B-2’s functionality, the low radar cross-section, it’s stealthiness, is no longer cutting edge, which is why the airframe is being phased out; Within the next few years, the B-21 Raider will replace the B-2.
The B-21 is expected to have a lower radar cross-section than the B-2 while incorporating many of the same features and indeed appearing much like the same aircraft, complete with a distinct flying wing design. Will the JH-XX be cut from a similar, flying wing cloth? Unclear. But the H-20 reportedly will feature the flying wing design.
More is known about the H-20 than the JH-XX. According to The War Zone, the H-20 “will reportedly have a roughly 4,000 to 5,000-mile combat radius” and “be able to carry heavy weapons loads internally” and “have an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to better spot targets, threats, and other hazards.” Presumably, the JH-XX would feature similar technologies, albeit with a smaller combat radius.
The ramifications for China’s fielding of a stealth bomber, the H-20 and/or the JH-XX, would be significant, marking the first time that China had a credible nuclear triad complete with an air-based delivery component.
Both programs have been in development for many years. When the bombers will be ready to join the PLAAF if ever, remains unclear. But given China’s recent advancements in military technology, from fifth-generation fighters to nuclear-powered naval vessels, a stealth bomber program may well be in the cards.
Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
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