Did China’s H-20 Stealth Bomber Just Make Its First Flight?

Key Factors and Abstract: Hypothesis has emerged concerning the maiden flight of China’s Xi’an H-20 stealth bomber, fueled by a video circulating on social media.

-Nevertheless, doubts persist about its authenticity as a consequence of questionable footage, lack of affirmation from Chinese language state media, and the Pentagon’s evaluation that the H-20 remains to be years away from operational readiness.



-If actual, the H-20 may mission energy with a 6,000-mile vary, threatening U.S. bases in Guam and Japan.

-Designed for nuclear and traditional strikes, the H-20 may very well be a game-changer within the Pacific. But, till official affirmation, the bomber’s first flight stays unverified and probably is a pretend. 

Did China’s New H-20 Stealth Bomber Make Its Maiden Flight?

With the proliferation of extensively out there and free synthetic intelligence instruments that may create a pretend photograph or video, one should be skeptical about what’s seen on-line. That’s why we are going to take with a grain of salt a current social media reel that may very well be proof of a take a look at flight from China’s new Xi’an H-20 stealth bomber. 

This Is One Large Airplane. If the H-20 Bomber Video Is Genuine

The H-20 has a giant flying-wing form within the video being shared, and a few Chinese language social media observers had been positive it was a stealth bomber.

 The alleged H-20 was adopted by what regarded like a J-16 fighter within the video. The H-20 had a “pronounced tail with inclined vertical fins,” in line with media studies.

If one can evaluate the size of the J-16 to the H-20, the brand new bomber regarded over 100 ft lengthy, making it one of many largest stealth bombers on the planet. 

The Chinese language navy did boast final 12 months on WeChat that the H-20 would seem on January 1, 2025. That will imply that the H-20 video may very well be genuine. 

Nevertheless, any social media person may have taken that data and devised a pretend video of the bomber.

At this level, the probably reply is the video is just not genuine. 

The Airplane Has A lot Upside 

If the video had been actual – at this level, we doubt it –  this might be a groundbreaking growth because the H-20 may dominate the area with its stealthiness, vary, and skill to launch nuclear weapons and precision-guided munitions.  

It may be in comparison with the U.S. Air Power’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and the brand new B-21 Raider, though it seems that the H-20 may very well be bigger than each of these airplanes if the video was actual.

One purpose to consider that the video is pretend is that some protection analysts don’t assume the H-20 will likely be flying repeatedly till the 2030s. There are additionally only a few angles of the video footage being shared. There’s additionally no noise popping out of Chinese language State Media organs, who would normally sing to the heavens that such a airplane simply hit the skies. 

Additionally, there are only a few photograph stills of the airplane floating round social media, just like the current J-36 stealth warplane flights, and a few have commentated concerning the bizarre flags flying within the video that look unusual and don’t match the footage in some methods. 

Pentagon’s Complete China Overview Stated the H-20 Received’t Be Prepared for Years

The most recent China navy energy report from the U.S. Division of Protection, probably the greatest opinions of Chinese language navy {hardware} and varied capabilities, didn’t have a lot to say concerning the H-20. Analysts described it as an outgrowth of the JH-XX program.

H-20 Bomber. Picture Credit score: X Screenshot.

“The PLAAF is looking for to increase its energy projection functionality with the event f a brand new H-20 stealth strategic bomber, with official PRC state media stating that this new stealth bomber may have a nuclear mission along with filling typical roles,” the report mentioned. “The PLAAF is growing new medium- and long-range stealth bombers to strike regional and world targets.”

Japan and Guam Is in Hazard with Lengthy-range H-20

The report defined the H-20 wouldn’t make its debut till the subsequent decade. It may have a spread of greater than 6,000 miles, enabling it to achieve American navy targets at air bases on Japan and Guam with typical or nuclear strike energy.

The H-20’s stealth functionality could also be over-rated and never as in a position to evade radar because the B-2 or B-21. The vary may be exaggerated. However even when the bomber may hit targets within the First Island Chain, that may make it a sensible addition to the Individuals’s Liberation Military Air Power (PLAAF).

The H-20 may have the aptitude to gather intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance information and have interaction in digital warfare roles. It is also a “drone mothership” tethering a number of “Loyal Wingman” unmanned craft.

May It Be 5 to Ten Years Forward of Schedule?

If the video may very well be believed in someway, it might be proof that the PLAAF is way additional together with the H-20, even perhaps 5 years forward of schedule. 

H-20 Stealth Bomber. Picture Credit score: Artist Rendering Chinese language Web.

PLAAF generals have been excited concerning the H-20 for a very long time, and one even claimed in 2024 that it was coming quickly. “Simply wait,” mentioned the PLAAF’s second in command Lt. Gen. Wang Wei.

Alas, I don’t assume this video is the actual deal. If the brand new bomber had its maiden flight, extra generals and the Chinese language legacy media would have blown up the airwaves and trumpeted the herald of the brand new bomber. Since there has not been an official affirmation of the flight, we surprise if it flew, and actually doubt it.

Finest Bomber Is Asia

However, the PLAAF has ambitions to create a stealth warplane with long-range and nuclear functionality. It will be one of the best bomber in East Asia. 

The H-20 may additionally hit the U.S. navy bases within the area, destroy runways, and blind air defenses with digital warfare capabilities. This might make it extremely efficient on Day One in all any battle with america or Taiwan.

No H-20 Bomber Flight…For Now

We are going to maintain an eye fixed open for the formally sanctioned and confirmed video of the brand new bomber, as this one appears to be like slightly suspect. If it flew lately, this might shock U.S. intelligence and present that the Individuals will not be aware about appropriate details about China’s navy developments. However at this level, the video does look pretend. 

Pc-Generated Picture of China’s Xian H-20 Stealth Bomber. Picture Credit score: Inventive Commons.

Concerning the Creator: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood 

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the writer of Don’t Flip Your Again On the World: a Conservative International Coverage and People, Machines, and Knowledge: Future Traits in Warfare, plus two different books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech agency that predicted world occasions utilizing synthetic intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and suggested the senator on protection and overseas coverage points. He has taught at American College, George Washington College, and George Mason College. Brent is a former U.S. Military Infantry officer. He will be adopted on X @BMEastwood.

The primary picture is from Chinese language State TV years in the past. 

Word: This piece has been adjusted to repair a mistake within the headline. We apologize.