Good news keeps coming for the PLA, with the Dongfeng-61 during the military parade and a series of new hypersonic missiles, followed by the Fujian aircraft carrier completing the catapult takeoff of three types of carrier-based aircraft. Now, there is also good news on the bomber front. Under the official announcement that everyone is looking forward to, will the H-20 be unveiled soon after being anticipated for decades?

01 CCTV officially announces the arrival of a new bomber

CCTV recently conducted a special report on the Air Force Aviation Open Day event. In the report, it clearly stated, "In addition to the H-6K, H-6J, and H-6N, there are subsequent models. Please look forward to it." This almost implies the H-20.

As China's only bomber, the H-6 has developed into multiple versions over the decades. However, the most recent version, the H-6N, first appeared in 2019, which is already six years ago. Considering the current pace of equipment updates and iterations in the PLA, it is sufficient for the emergence of a new bomber. However, with no new H-6 model appearing for such a long time, this has led to speculation from the outside world that the PLA might be planning something big, preparing to unveil the H-20.

The mysterious aircraft in the Air Force promotional video is believed to be the H-20

News about the H-20's unveiling is not baseless, as the official sources have repeatedly hinted at it. In the 2021 Air Force official promotional video, there was an aircraft covered with a cloth, featuring a flying wing layout, which looked similar to the American B-2.

In March last year, General Wang Wei, Deputy Commander of the Air Force, also hinted that the H-20 would soon be unveiled, further increasing the popularity of the H-20.

In November last year, in the concept image of the J-35, there was also a flying wing stealth bomber following the J-35. The release of this concept image once again made the H-20 a hot topic.

Not only has the Chinese official repeatedly mentioned the news about the H-20, but the United States has also mentioned it. In the 2024 China Military Power Report released by the US, it clearly mentioned that China is indeed developing the H-20, and the development has been ongoing for a long time, now entering the later stages, and will be unveiled in the coming years.

02 The significance of the H-20 for the PLA is great

After China has developed intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear submarines, some people believe that strategic bombers are not so important anymore. However, as an essential part of the triad nuclear strike system, strategic bombers are indispensable. Although the H-6 has continuously improved over the years and can enter the threshold of strategic bombers, it still has a certain distance. Moreover, due to the limitations of the original design of the H-6, its potential has been almost fully developed. In addition, when the air forces of various countries are moving towards fifth-generation or even sixth-generation aircraft, the performance of the H-6 is somewhat outdated. It is time to introduce a new bomber to strengthen China's nuclear strike system.

With the mass deployment of the B-21 by the US, the H-20 becomes even more crucial

Especially when the US B-21 has achieved its first flight and decided to mass-produce and deploy, China needs not just a strategic bomber, but one that can rival the B-21 in terms of stealth capability.

Stealth strategic bombers remain a form of dimensional superiority for other countries

From the recent development of the PLA's equipment, it is obvious that the gap with the US is gradually narrowing, even surpassing. However, in the field of strategic bombers, it remains a weakness. Only the US and Russia have strategic bombers globally, and only the US has stealth strategic bombers. Moreover, the US has deployed stealth strategic bombers to attack the Houthis and Iran, and the latter two had no way to respond, which is the situation China previously faced. China must fill this gap.

The catapult of the Fujian aircraft carrier proves that the Chinese Navy's striking range has covered the Second Island Chain. If the H-20 is unveiled, then the Chinese Air Force's striking range can also cover the Second Island Chain and even the Third Island Chain. Compared to the US, China also has an industrial advantage. Once the H-20 is unveiled, it can be rapidly produced in large quantities, allowing the PLA to surpass the US in stealth strategic bombers.

Of course, before the H-20 is unveiled, everything is still uncertain. However, it can be definitely said that the PLA will not have only the H-6 as its bomber. Considering the coincidence of the Fujian aircraft carrier's catapult announcement, perhaps on the day of Trump's visit to China, the H-20 will bring everyone a surprise.

Information source in the article: The coexistence of old and new generations, how did the "Old Six" medium-range bomber evolve? Jingbao Network

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7553931040620954153/

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