2020 is nearly over ... so what can we expect in 2021 for PLA watchers?

[Deino]

I'm calling it now: First test flight of the H-20 on 11/11/2021, just like the first test flight of the J-20 was on 11/11/2011.

Then I owe you a beer ... a bottle of beer or better a barrel!

Cheers.

 

[Vapnope]

- I would like to see loyal wingman concept in reality by plaaf
- J10C with Chinese engine
- J31 in mass production (If they are planning to continue this plane)

 

[samsara]

095 SSN and 096 SSBN might also debut

Plus some news on DF-51.

I wanna see more the strategic stuffs!

 

[Deino]

A royal wingman drone

Maybe this one:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1341060164066095107

 

[52051]

Maybe this one:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1341060164066095107

It is not, if my memory serves, the design is from a design contest among young engineers hold this year, has nothing to do with any real military project.

 

[aliaselin]

2021 should be an important year with lots of surpise due to CCP established for 100 years

 

[Figaro]

- J10C with Chinese engine

Already seen earlier this year.

How many countries in the world can build bombers similar to the Tu-16 (technology 70 years ago)?

The TU-16 is not an outdated platform , it is constantly improving and can meet the requirements of modern warfare. The Russians do not use the Tu-16, they underestimate it and so they never break the limit and exploit the true power of the Tu-16.

The British invented tanks, but now they are inferior to Russia in tank technology.
The Russians invented the Tu-16, but China is the only country in the world that brought the Tu-16 to its limits with the Xian H6K, H6N versions ...

Comparing the H-20 with the Tu-95 and Tu-22M, then concluding that the Tu-95 and TU-22M are too old and should not be produced is a mistake. I am sure 50 years later, Tu-95 and Tu-22M are still the dream technology of 99% countries in the world and can be used effectively. It is the same as in the JF-17, using the RD-33 engine invented 50 years ago

Xian H-20 is very modern and powerful. But Tu-95, Tu-22M, Su-34 have their own advantages. There is no conflict between them. It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white. H-20, H-6k, Tu-95, Tu-22M, Su-34 can support each other

I'm sorry but there is just no way the Tu-16 can perform anywhere near the range of tasks a H-20 can ... not to mention its need to have a bunch of fighter escorts and even then extremely poor survivability. The Tu-16/Tu-95 may look good pounding Syrian militants but how would it fare against the integrated air defenses of someone like the US? I doubt they would be effective at all. The only advantage I can think of for them are that they are extremely cheap and easy to produce.

 

[Deino]

Already seen earlier this year.

But not yet in operational service

 

[vi-va]

Already seen earlier this year.

I'm sorry but there is just no way the Tu-16 can perform anywhere near the range of tasks a H-20 can ... not to mention its need to have a bunch of fighter escorts and even then extremely poor survivability. The Tu-16/Tu-95 may look good pounding Syrian militants but how would it fare against the integrated air defenses of someone like the US? I doubt they would be effective at all. The only advantage I can think of for them are that they are extremely cheap and easy to produce.

China produced a lot of H-6, which can carry 6 cruise missiles each against first island chain, or 2 missiles against Guam.
H-6 is also capable to carry a lot of load, such as anti-ship missiles, or ballistic missiles, much more load than J-16.

H-6 will carry hyper-sonic missiles as well, which kill enemies from 1000+ km away in less than 10 minutes.

Tu-16 is old, but H-6 is not. The avionic is quit new. B-52 is old, but still be in service for quite a few decades.

H-6 is indispensable for PLAAF, and will still be in service for around 2-3 decades even when H-20 is mass produced.

 

[samsara]

Just a reminder, a good read by Rick Joe about the H-6 family...

An overview of the H-6K family and its role in the PLA’s toolbox of strike options.
By Rick Joe | The Diplomat (2020-11-18)

...
The H-6K family provides the PLA with a flexible, relatively low cost, and reliable regional strike capability that has been – and is actively being – procured in large numbers. It is not an exaggeration to state that about a hundred of the aircraft type have been procured and commissioned within the space of a decade, and the associated boost in the PLA’s regional strike capacity is significant, further enhanced in context of the PLAAF’s greater number of strike capable tactical fighters, as well as the PLA Rocket Force’s growth of their own ground launched LACMs and conventionally tipped ballistic missiles.

The H-6K family will likely enjoy further enhancements in sensors, avionics, and integration with future payloads as they are developed, including but not limited to stealthy cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, EW payloads, and swarming systems. Even with current avionics, the H-6K family could also likely operate in a supplementary information-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR) role or EW role depending on mission demand, but future upgrades could make the aircraft even more multirole – enabled not least by the relatively low cost of the aircraft and its size, both providing good growth margin.

As new build airframes, the H-6K family will likely be in service for many years, and will remain relevant even when the expected H-20 stealth bomber enters service. The H-20 will almost certainly be unable to carry the large ventral missile systems that the H-6N can, and the H-6K family’s pylons can carry outsize payloads impractical on tactical fighters, virtually ensuring they will remain relevant for years if not decades yet.
...

PLAAF & PLANAF H-6 Long Range Bomber thread

I think that was pretty clear since the latest H-6N and J bombers are from a different production block, but maybe the K models were upgraded to H-6J? Poor PLAN... PLAAF can get anything that PLAN has, if PLAAF is interested in.

defence.pk

 

[vi-va]

Just a reminder, a good read by Rick Joe about the H-6 family...

An overview of the H-6K family and its role in the PLA’s toolbox of strike options.
By Rick Joe | The Diplomat (2020-11-18)

...
The H-6K family provides the PLA with a flexible, relatively low cost, and reliable regional strike capability that has been – and is actively being – procured in large numbers. It is not an exaggeration to state that about a hundred of the aircraft type have been procured and commissioned within the space of a decade, and the associated boost in the PLA’s regional strike capacity is significant, further enhanced in context of the PLAAF’s greater number of strike capable tactical fighters, as well as the PLA Rocket Force’s growth of their own ground launched LACMs and conventionally tipped ballistic missiles.

The H-6K family will likely enjoy further enhancements in sensors, avionics, and integration with future payloads as they are developed, including but not limited to stealthy cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, EW payloads, and swarming systems. Even with current avionics, the H-6K family could also likely operate in a supplementary information-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR) role or EW role depending on mission demand, but future upgrades could make the aircraft even more multirole – enabled not least by the relatively low cost of the aircraft and its size, both providing good growth margin.

As new build airframes, the H-6K family will likely be in service for many years, and will remain relevant even when the expected H-20 stealth bomber enters service. The H-20 will almost certainly be unable to carry the large ventral missile systems that the H-6N can, and the H-6K family’s pylons can carry outsize payloads impractical on tactical fighters, virtually ensuring they will remain relevant for years if not decades yet.
...

PLAAF & PLANAF H-6 Long Range Bomber thread

I think that was pretty clear since the latest H-6N and J bombers are from a different production block, but maybe the K models were upgraded to H-6J? Poor PLAN... PLAAF can get anything that PLAN has, if PLAAF is interested in.

defence.pk

Some of H-6K job can be done on modified Y-20. Arsenal Plane

USAF Leaders Considering Arsenal Plane Options - Air Force Magazine

The Air Force is planning experiments and briefing senior leaders on progress toward its “arsenal plane” idea, looking at multiple aircraft options to fly with a large weapons cache to back up strike assets. An arsenal plane would be a multi-engine platform that accompanies remotely piloted...

www.airforcemag.com

.

US Air Force requests ideas for arsenal plane to launch long-range missiles ‘en masse’

The service is debating how effective such an aircraft would be against China or Russia, both which have sophisticated anti-aircraft defences that make it difficult to fly over their sovereign territory and drop bombs.

www.flightglobal.com

 

[kungfugymnast]

Do you think China will develop a variant of KJ-600 C-2 Greyhound for transportation and S-3 Viking for anti sub ? I personally believe so.

C2 is base on E-2, so I think there shouldn't be major issue to get Chinese version of C-2 base on KJ-600.

China has accumulate experience on Y-8FQ Cub/GX-6, so S-3 technology should be mature as well.

Most likely will since it could take off from Type 003. ASW and transport

Do you think China will develop a variant of KJ-600 C-2 Greyhound for transportation and S-3 Viking for anti sub ? I personally believe so.

C2 is base on E-2, so I think there shouldn't be major issue to get Chinese version of C-2 base on KJ-600.

China has accumulate experience on Y-8FQ Cub/GX-6, so S-3 technology should be mature as well.

It sure will for separate ASW and transport variants.

I'm calling it now: First test flight of the H-20 on 11/11/2021, just like the first test flight of the J-20 was on 11/11/2011.

H-20 will it look like B-2 flying wing or more of large fighter-bomber since the designer evaluated the B-1R with AESA and air to air capable besides being bomber? Flying intercontinental is likely without fighter escort, better have own radar and air to air missiles for self defense.

 

[waja2000]

News and photos on WS-15, WS-19 and CJ-1000A.

News on Y-30

KJ-600 launch video (from land)
Maybe more on WS-13(E/xx) for the JF-17 and as interim J-35 engine.

CJ-1000A already replace to enhance CJ-1000AX

 

[luciferdd]

HQ-19&HQ-26

 

[White and Green with M/S]

I wanted to see what is real progress of PLAAF Regional bomber project, at least its final mockup