In 2016, former
People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) general
Ma Xiaotian announced that China was developing a new type of long-range bomber on the air force's open day. In 2018, a Chinese military spokesperson confirmed the development was making "great progress". According to the
United States Department of Defense, the H-20 is expected to be a
flying wing with a range of at least 8,500 km and a payload capacity of at least 10 tonnes; The payload is projected to be at least 10 tonnes of conventional or nuclear weapons. Defense analysts have noted several recurring features on these models, including
serrated air intakes, cranked-kite wings, and foldable
twin tail surfaces that can be switched between being horizontal
tailplanes and
V-tails. In July 2022, Chinese
state media suggested the H-20 was close to taking its maiden flight. In March 2024, during the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, vice commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, Wang Wei, indicated that H-20 will be revealed "very soon". In December 2024, it was indicated that the new bomber may not be fully operational until the 2030s. In January 2025, some images on Chinese social media indicated that test flights of the new bomber had potentially taken place but were not officially confirmed. ==See also==