Quite interesting most of the time we spoke about a future Chinese bomber, we were discussing the H-20 stealth bomber but now with the latest rumours the H-18 popped up in front.
Anyway the most important point to consider is not only what's the PLAAF's priority (here it's indeed most likely the H-18 due to being a regional bomber) but who has the least technical issues left (stealth, avionics and most of all engines again) ? As such I think that a H-20 with four WS-10 is probably less an issue than a supersonic design with two only quite weak interim engines for a supersonic design until the WS-15 is ready.
In regard to the H-20 from XAC it was thus expected - given the great urgency of the Y-20 program - that it only gained full momentum after the successful flight of latter in late 2012. The latest rumour suggest that individual parts of a prototype are under construction since March 2015 at XAC and given an at best similar development-cycle to the Y-20 (full-scale metal mock-up constructed by 2008, begin of prototype-manufacturing in August 2009 and final assembly until late 2012, maiden flight in early 2013) a roll out can be projected to 2018/19 at best. As such there are exciting times ahead until the next Chinese Dragon will spread its wings.
Deino
