Harrison Kass
Together, the two bombers offer China a layered bomber corps, with long-range stealth for global posturing and a fast, survivable strike option for near-term coercion.
As China’s revisionist ambitions grow, so too does its need for military modernization. Central to that modernization effort is a revamp of the bomber corps—which for decades has been a relic of the Cold War, consisting mostly of Soviet Tu-16 clones known as the H-6. Incapable of meaningful power projection, the H-6 is ill-suited to the Xi regime’s intention to be a global actor.
Accordingly, China is pursuing two converging bomber programs, each offering insights into the country’s strategic direction. First, China is operating the H-20, a stealth intercontinental bomber. And second, it is reportedly developing the new “JH-XX,” a medium-range stealth strike aircraft. Together, the two bombers embody China’s attempt to rewrite the military geography of the Pacific and alter the balance of power.
The H-20: China’s Flying Wing Stealth Bomber
Developed by Xi’an Aircraft Corporation, the H-20 is a strategic game changer. While little is known of the program, which has been shrouded in secrecy, satellite imagery has revealed some basic parameters: the H-20 appears to be a flying-wing stealth bomber comparable to the Northrop B-2 Spirit and the forthcoming B-21 Raider.
The H-20 is believed to have a combat radius of up to 5,000 kilometers, which would pull Guam, Australia, and possibly even Hawaii into range for H-20s stationed on the Chinese mainland. The H-20 will presumably carry both nuclear and conventional payloads internally, with the ability to operate with low observability and high survivability.
If true, the H-20 will give China its first ever strategic bomber. It would also complete China’s nuclear triad with an air-based nuclear option—a watershed moment in the country’s military capabilities, sure to shift the entire deterrence landscape.
We Still Don’t Know Much About the JH-XX Bomber
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