Chinese mystery bomber

[DesertFox]

China's H-8 stealth bomber may be more advanced than the American B-2A and capable of delivering a 350-kiloton nuclear warhead to the continental U.S., or it could be a mock-up of the A-12 "Flying Dorito."

Those are just two of the rumors accompanying a video trumpeting some recent triumphs of Chinese aviation. Although it's "top secret," Chinese quasi-official Web sites brag that the Xian H-8 is a carbon-fiber, "special nanotechnology"-coated, stealth, strategic, heavy bomber all rolled into one.

What we know for sure is that it has a range of 11,000 kilometers, without refueling, but it could refuel if it wanted to--possibly. In any case, it has extra-large fuel tanks. It has a crew of two and travels at Mach 1.2, or maybe 1.4. It carries an 18-ton bomb payload and/or 12 new Stealth cruise missiles with a range of 3,000 kilometers. And three nuclear missiles, at least.

More (http://www.cnet.com/8301-13639_1-9894658-42.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20)

[DesertFox]

The B-1 Clinton.

[Incident_command]

I know the US has a history of underestimating its enemies airpower, but there is no way in hell I will believe they built this. They cant even copy a mig21 or a commercial airliner without screwing it up much less build this bomber.

[NRP]

With as much Secret info that has been leaked to them it would not surprise me if they pulled it off.
Irrelevant anyway since they already possess ballistic nuclear weapons. Hmm...unless used for say...a Taiwan invasion?

[Incident_command]

Irrelevant anyway since they already possess ballistic nuclear weapons. Hmm...unless used for say...a Taiwan invasion?

Not true.
While I dont believe they have one or are close, if they do it would have huge strategic value even outside of the Taiwanese theater, as the F117and B2 have proven.

Consider this.
The Chinese have been attempting and have finally gotten approval to build a copy of the Soviet TU160. Very unlikely they would be pursuing the rights if they had the ability to build a supersonic steath aircraft.

The US B2/ F117 is not supersonic due to flight characteristic limitations.This would mean the chinese have far surpassed our ability and solved this problem. There are no supersonic flying wings as of.

The chinese have just built their first fly by wire plane. While fly by wire isnt as tough to build on say a bomber or passenger jet as it is on a fighter, it still is a tough hurdle. Not to mention all the onboard avionics they would need to support this aircraft.Consider all the computer techno that would be involved. Thats what makes the F22 and B2 so dominant.

There have been other chinese aircraft hoaxes, remember the J-14? It even fooled Janes.

[Wolfcounsel]

Sailors in the US Navy call that piece of crap a target.

[DesertFox]

Yeah, but choo know how sailors are. :D

[Wolfcounsel]

Yes. A Sailor can take apart a steel ball and put it back together and have parts left over. Shooting down those Chinese acrobat planes wouldn't raise a sweat at any time.

Chinese acrobat? Was that a racial slur? Because I know the computer types perfectly without slurring any words.:evilgrin:

[NRP]

Wow, well I was going to comment that it is stealth and we have to be able to see what we shoot but...
Ok, I'll leave it at that. :biggrin:

[Wolfcounsel]

"Wow, well I was going to comment that it is stealth and we have to ba able to see what we shoot but...
Ok, I'll leave it at that. :biggrin:" --NRP

Would you bet your life by flying in one of those things in a hostile manner over a US Navy battle group?

Always there has to be a cheerleader for the underdog.

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Semper ubi sub ubi
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[Oldeshooter]

So that's where all the money from WalMart ends up.