China's long-anticipated stealth bomber could be unveiled at the biennial Zhuhai airshow in November, a Hong Kong-based media outlet reported on Monday. A stealth platform would considerably boost China's military capabilities and increase concerns across the Indo-Pacific region.
The South China Morning Post claimed China's "new generation strategic bomber is likely to be ready for delivery this year, but Beijing is said to be weighing the impact of its unveiling at a complex time in regional relations due to the coronavirus pandemic".
The publication added the Zhuhai airshow could be a platform "to promote China’s image and its success in pandemic control—telling the outside world that the contagion did not have any big impacts on Chinese defence industry enterprises".
Development of the stealth bomber by China, dubbed the H-20, has been going on for several years now. The stealth bomber project was first confirmed in 2016 by Ma Xiaotian, the then commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Interestingly, a US Department of Defence report on China's military advancements, published in May 2019, claimed the proposed stealth bomber would make its debut around 2025.
China currently relies on a fleet of H-6 bombers, which are derived from a 1950s Soviet-era design. China has upgraded its H-6 bombers to fire long-range cruise missiles, though the aircraft is limited by its poor range and weapons carriage capabilities.
Images on Chinese websites showed the H-20 stealth bomber having a 'flying wing' design, similar to the US B-2 jet, the first stealth bomber to enter service. The flying wing design allows for increased range for the aircraft and is considered as being optimal to reduce radar cross-section. In 2018, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), one of China's largest aerospace firms, provided a 'sneak-peek' of the stealth bomber in a company video.
Without providing attribution, the South China Morning Post claimed the proposed H-20 bomber "would be equipped with nuclear and conventional missiles with a maximum take-off weight of at least 200 tonnes and a payload of up to 45 tonnes". If the figures are accurate, the specifications of the aircraft would be greater than the US Air Force's fleet of B-2 jets. The H-20 would have a range of about 8,500km. The South China Morning Post noted China was facing delays in developing new engines for the H-20 stealth bomber.
Diplomatic impact
The South China Morning Post quoted a source as saying, “The Beijing leadership is still carefully considering whether its [stealth bomber] commission will affect regional balance, especially as regional tensions have been escalating over the COVID-19 pandemic." The publication noted the appearance of the stealth bomber at this year’s airshow could heighten tension as the aircraft would be capable of directly threatening countries within its strike range, such as Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Interestingly, one of the reasons cited by the South China Morning Post for China accelerating the rollout of the H-20 was the US selling the F-35 stealth fighter to several countries in the Indo-Pacific. Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia have all confirmed orders for the F-35. Interestingly, the South China Morning Post claimed a sale of F-35 fighters to these aforementioned countries and also India and Taiwan would alarm China.