H-20 bomber (with H-X, JH-XX)

[Blitzo]

Another update from Huitong:


The confusing part is that the project was transferred to XAC to be turned into a medium bomber. Why would XAC take over when SAC did all of the research work? Additionally, what does it mean when the JH-XX is to be "developed" into a medium bomber? Like is it going to be enlarged or completely redesigned?

Probably just another way of saying "being worked on by" -- i.e.: insufficient info to determine extent of work being done.

I think that was how his last entry about H-18/JH-XX was phrased a few years ago before he deleted it for some reason.


At the end of the day we don't really know if this project is still being developed in some way and more importantly whether the PLA are interested. IF the PLA aren't interested in this project then all of this is much ado about nothing.

 

[SilentObserver]

Another update from Huitong:


The confusing part is that the project was transferred to XAC to be turned into a medium bomber. Why would XAC take over when SAC did all of the research work? Additionally, what does it mean when the JH-XX is to be "developed" into a medium bomber? Like is it going to be enlarged or completely redesigned?

It looks like Xian develops heavy aircrafts and bombers. Being located in the deep interior of China, it enables better security and weapons testing. China tends to locate strategic assets in the interior.

XAC developed and manufactured: Y-20, H-6, JH-7 fighter bomber, etc. It would make sense for the JH-XX to be developed there due to past experience with bombers and large aircraft.

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[Hyperwarp]

Another update from Huitong:


The confusing part is that the project was transferred to XAC to be turned into a medium bomber. Why would XAC take over when SAC did all of the research work? Additionally, what does it mean when the JH-XX is to be "developed" into a medium bomber? Like is it going to be enlarged or completely redesigned?

There were rumors that SAC was developing a Su-34 copy/variant. This may have had some RCS reduction measures but the PLAAF probably said no thanks. Su-34 is a fighter-bomber. It can carry all the A-to-A load of the regular Su-27 family. PLAAF may have thought this was redundant or not useful for its requirements. So maybe the development of a new stealthy supersonic medium bomber was given to XAC. Hence the new design.

 

[SinoSoldier]

There were rumors that SAC was developing a Su-34 copy/variant. This may have had some RCS reduction measures but the PLAAF probably said no thanks. Su-34 is a fighter-bomber. It can carry all the A-to-A load of the regular Su-27 family. PLAAF may have thought this was redundant or not useful for its requirements. So maybe the development of a new stealthy supersonic medium bomber was given to XAC. Hence the new design.

Not according to the big shrimp. Apparently the "H-18" design that we all know about was presented to a top "boss" in 2013 and was soundly rejected. It seems that the project may have been picked up later.

 

[Blitzo]

There were rumors that SAC was developing a Su-34 copy/variant. This may have had some RCS reduction measures but the PLAAF probably said no thanks. Su-34 is a fighter-bomber. It can carry all the A-to-A load of the regular Su-27 family. PLAAF may have thought this was redundant or not useful for its requirements. So maybe the development of a new stealthy supersonic medium bomber was given to XAC. Hence the new design.

IMO we don't know what kind of original "proposal" SAC offered.

Whether it was an Su-34 copy or the YF-23 style black JH-XX model...

 

[latenlazy]

Another update from Huitong:


The confusing part is that the project was transferred to XAC to be turned into a medium bomber. Why would XAC take over when SAC did all of the research work? Additionally, what does it mean when the JH-XX is to be "developed" into a medium bomber? Like is it going to be enlarged or completely redesigned?

Transferring projects to different institutes that are assigned more appropriate specialization is common practice with the state owned Chinese aerospace sector, or at least was in the mid 2000s. My guess is that if these developments are true XAC was given the project because XAC has the most experience with bombers.

 

[SinoSoldier]

Fzgfzy seems to be saying that there are two JH-XX bomber designs and that the more "beautiful and science-fiction-like" one might end up being approved. Apparently the mockup of the cockpit that was photographed in July 2013 is the "ugly" version.

This, if true, would corroborate with the other rumors from Huitong and 草根设计师.

 

[ougoah]

Reminds me of the excitement a few years ago about H-7 stealth bomber being revealed. What are the development stages at for these two strikers/bombers?

 

[siegecrossbow]

Let's not get too ahead of ourselves here. It might just be a demonstrator since we know next to nothing about this new variant.

 

[Sunbud]

Assuming the black model has two men cockpit, therefor the size of the windshield is in similar size as Su-34, you can see that the JH-XX is much lager in overall size.
So even if the cockpit mockup looks the same size as Su-34 or F-111, it still could be the JH-XX's cockpit.

P.S. JH-XX model is certainly larger than Su-34 or F-111, but it is not that much larger that you may expect. After all, it is a JH.

Are you sure that photo is legitimate? The definition and interface between the bottom of the airframe and the background photo of the venue don't seem to match, let alone the lighting. Looks photoshopped. Also note the landing gear protruding from the bottom looks like it belongs to a different aircraft, looks like a concept CG pasted on top of a demo of the J-31.