China to Possess All Three Major Nuclear Forces... US Announces Test of B-2 Similar Bomber

AVIC's Strategic and Historically Significant Military Aircraft Flight Test Imminent
Possibility of J-35 Stealth Carrier-Based Aircraft Instead of H-20 Long-Range Stealth Bomber

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China has announced test flights for next-generation military aircraft. China has set modernization goals of military informatization, mechanization, and intellectualization by 2027, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. Aircraft carriers, stealth fighters, and unmanned drones are representative military modernization strategies.

Photo by Baidu capture

The state-run Global Times reported on the 8th, citing Shakerdaw, the official overseas social media account of the Communist Party's organ People's Daily, that the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) will soon conduct flight tests of an important type of aircraft.

AVIC is China's largest state-owned enterprise producing mainly combat aircraft, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, stealth fighters (J-20), and drones.

Ge Heping, head of the China Flight Test Center under AVIC, emphasized the mental preparedness of the staff at a flight test meeting held on the 5th, stating, "China plans to conduct flight tests on an important type of aircraft with strategic and historical significance."

The specific type of aircraft to undergo flight testing remains under wraps. Inside China, the aircraft expected to be tested is the H-20 long-range stealth strategic bomber. The Chinese Air Force revealed the silhouette of this bomber last January. Judging by the silhouette, it resembles the U.S. Air Force's B-2 Spirit bomber.

The range and stealth capabilities of this bomber are not yet known. To be classified as a long-range bomber, the range must be around 10,000 km. The B-2 Spirit, which is expected to be succeeded by the B-21 Raider around 2025, has a range of 11,000 km. China's stealth technology has also not been confirmed yet.

Photo by Baidu Capture

However, if the H-20 stealth bomber is deployed in active service, China will possess all three major nuclear forces (intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and long-range strategic stealth bombers), posing a considerable threat to the United States.

Chinese military expert Wei Dongxu said, "Although the H-20 bomber may appear similar to the U.S. military's B-2 bomber at first glance, it is designed to minimize radar cross-section," adding, "If it is indeed the H-20 bomber flight test, it signifies that China will have a world-class strategic stealth bomber."

Some speculate that the test aircraft might not be the H-20 long-range stealth bomber but rather the J-35 (FC-31) stealth carrier-based fighter or the J-15 carrier-based fighter.

China held the launching ceremony for its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian (third ship), on the 17th of last month. The 80,000-ton Fujian is designed with a catapult launch system, unlike the ski-jump style Liaoning (first ship) and Shandong (second ship). The catapult is a launch device that accelerates carrier-based aircraft to a takeoff speed of up to 250 km/h instantly. Therefore, there is speculation that the announced flight test of strategic and historical importance could be for carrier-based aircraft to be used on the third ship.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.