China may soon unveil a new aircraft to counter the U.S.' B-21 stealth bomber, a Chinese military official has said.
People's Liberation Army Air Force Deputy Commander Wang Wei announced the imminent unveiling of China's H-20 stealth bomber during an interview on the sidelines of China's "Two Sessions" meeting on Monday.
"It's coming soon, just wait!" Wang told Chinese state-owned newspaper Hong Kong Commercial Daily in an interview on Monday.
The Two Sessions meeting is a gathering of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, during which Chinese leadership discuss state matters, budgets and economic policies for the upcoming five-year period.
The news about the H-20 bomber comes after the maiden flight of the Northrop Grumman B-21 "Raider" from Palmdale, California, on November 10, 2023. The nuclear-capable bomber has since carried out multiple test flights at undisclosed locations, marking a success for the U.S. strategic bomber program.
The Department of Defense describes the B-21 as part of a broader system for conventional long-range strike capabilities, both manned or and unmanned, and employing a diverse range of munitions.
The H-20, a project shrouded in secrecy since 2016, has been the subject of global speculation regarding China's ability to overcome technical challenges.
"There is no bottleneck, it can be solved. Our scientific researchers are now very good and all have this capability." Wang told the Hong Kong Commercial Daily.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Department of Defense for comment.
The H-20 represents a leap forward for the Chinese Air Force, promising to enhance its operational capabilities.
"That must be the case. A generation of equipment brings a generation of combat effectiveness," Wang stated, acknowledging the transformative impact of the H-20 on China's aerial warfare capabilities. He also highlighted its significance as part of "a new generation of new aircraft."
Dubbed the "Storm" by analysts, the H-20 positions China alongside the United States as one of the few nations possessing stealth strategic bombers.
Experts anticipate that the H-20's introduction could potentially alter the strategic balance between the U.S. and China, particularly in the Pacific region.
"A long-range stealth bomber that could reach U.S. airspace is another example of China's efforts to achieve nuclear parity with the United States," Brent M. Eastwood wrote in international affairs magazine The National Interest on December 24, 2023.
The strategic value of the H-20, which is said to have a payload capacity of 45 tons, extends beyond mere power projection. With an estimated range of approximately 5,281 miles, capable of being extended through aerial refueling, it threatens to be able to reach Japan, Guam, the Philippines, and potentially, even the West Coast of the United States, Eastwood wrote for The National Interest. Such capabilities underscore the H-20's potential to alter the nuclear balance with the United States.
When questioned about rivalry with the United States and the possibility of achieving a strategic advantage, Wang Wei said: "We don't compete with the United States, we only protect our own safety."
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About the writer
Aadil Brar is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers international security, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian ... Read more
