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China’s military
ChinaMilitary

High hopes of China’s H-20 stealth bomber launch as PLA top brass vow weapon system upgrades

  • The H-20 is seen as China’s answer to the B-21 Raider, the US military’s most advanced strategic bomber
  • New-generation warplane, tipped to double the PLA’s strike range, is expected to be launched soon, military insider tells the Post

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An artist’s impression of the likely features of an H-20 stealth bomber. Photo: Weibo
Minnie Chan
The People’s Liberation Army will continue to upgrade its weapon systems to meet President Xi Jinping’s call to build a “strong system of strategic deterrence”, air force top brass pledged at China’s biggest air show.
This comes as all eyes are on the PLA’s plans to launch its H-20 new generation stealth bomber, seen as China’s answer to the B-21 Raider – the US military’s most advanced strategic bomber expected to roll out next month.
In response to media queries on a possible timeline for the H-20, PLA Air Force deputy commander Lieutenant General Jia Zhigang said: “The air force should beef up its combat capabilities in both defensive and offensive air space operations … in response to the goal of establishing a strong system of strategic deterrence as presented in the 20th party congress report [delivered by Xi].”

Addressing the same press conference, Lieutenant Colonel Zou Zhaosia, the air force’s equipment department chief, said weapons upgrade and replacements would continue as they had done in the past decade, as the Chinese military works towards its goal of becoming a world-class fighting force.

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His words echoed those of Xi’s work report to the Communist Party congress last month, calling on the PLA to move quicker with troop training and new strategies to become a world-class military.

Both Jia and Zou were speaking on the sidelines of the 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, a biannual air show in the southern city of Zhuhai that usually showcases the latest in Chinese warplanes and aviation technology.

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According to former PLA instructor Song Zhongping, Jia and Zou’s remarks were a “strong implication” that China planned to introduce its H-20 bomber in the near future, a necessary step for the country to “build a strong system of strategic deterrence”, as Xi urged in his report on October 16.
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