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

AssassinsMace said:

Didn't the F-117s test flights take place at night so no one could see its existence?

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F-117 test flights also took place in the middle of the Nevada desert. I'm not sure the Chinese stealth bomber would be attempting night flights first because that seems unnecessarily dangerous, or I could be wrong. If a stealth bomber is being test flown at all, it most likely is being done somewhere in far western China, away from populated areas such as Xi'an.

AssassinsMace said:

Didn't the F-117s test flights take place at night so no one could see its existence?

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I dont' think the Xi'an factory is anywhere near like Groom Lake/Area 51 where the first F117 prototype made its maiden flight...


The notion that H-X has made its maiden flight in secret, based on past precedent and based on current information, should be treated with significant skepticism if not derision.

Bltizo said:

I dont' think the Xi'an factory is anywhere near like Groom Lake/Area 51 where the first F117 prototype made its maiden flight...


The notion that H-X has made its maiden flight in secret, based on past precedent and based on current information, should be treated with significant skepticism if not derision.

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In the past, it would have been in China's interest to keep such capabilities secret and as an unknown.

Now, the existence of even a single semi-operational stealth bomber changes the strategic calculation in all sorts of scenarios.

Eg. Being able to penetrate deep into hostile airspace, and then releasing bombs or missiles with zero warning time.

I would hope they're not silly enough to fly prototypes out in the open like that. If they want to boost domestic PR and morale, they'd make a bigger show, but this is half-arsed both ways.

Also hope they didn't go with a B2 / B21 copy. May be very effective but not as exciting for us fans.

ougoah said:

I would hope they're not silly enough to fly prototypes out in the open like that.

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I wonder how you'd test 50 meter wingspan a/c from XAC airfield 'out of the open'.
And how that compares with an initial testing of J-20s at Chengdu?

flateric said:

I wonder how you'd test 50 meter wingspan a/c from XAC airfield 'out of the open'.
And how that compares with an initial testing of J-20s at Chengdu?

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There must be ways to transport components to test sites outside of urban areas.

ougoah said:

There must be ways to transport components to test sites outside of urban areas.

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Well, in my opinion, the testings that we know about and hear about are most likely "public" showing, like the first flight of the J-20 at Chengdu in 2011.

I do believe they have ways to transport components to classified test sites. We don't know about them and we never hear about them. It is likely that they test their new systems extensively at these secret sites. Once the testing is done, they then transport components back to well-known locations, like Chengdu, and "reveal" them to the public by performing tests there.

This is just my guess though...

Once more, they didn't care with that in the case with J-20s, which represents even more technology advanced system than H-20. Why should they do that with much more complicated case of H-20 transportation, say, to Dingxin, assembling it in situ - with a need to transfer and keeping bunch of personell there and increasing chances for mistakes, fu*kups, etc? Even much smaller and way more transportable Lijian was first flown at the home site.

CAC put up a wall which basically killed outsiders taking pictures. If you don't know when a flight is being prepared, you can't get into position to take pictures. That's been pretty effective even in daylight. At night no one is going to tell what's taking off or landing. If they have walls wherever they maybe testing the H-X, it's probably next to impossible to catch a picture.

Figaro said:

What is this? Could this be the new bomber?

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I think this could be it... Click on the photo to find out.


P.S. Has anyone heard from David Axe? He seems to be missing in action as of late.