US officials appear unfazed by the development of China’s fresh H- 20 stealth fighter, which is expected to remain Beijing’s reaction to American advanced cunning aircraft like the B- 21 Raider. A Department of Defense knowledge national safely observed a Pentagon briefing that the Chinese stealth bomber does not measure up to the US’s small apparent programs. The H-20 is probably nowhere near as good as US LO platforms, especially the more developed ones that are coming down, according to the official, pointing out that China has encountered significant engineering challenges that prevent its operational capabilities from being comparable to those of US models like the B-2 or B-21.
According to a Breaking Defense report, the US intelligence community views the H-20 more as a display of military prowess than as a practical augmentation in capability, as indicated by a Chinese military official to the state-owned Hong Kong Commercial Daily. ” You may choose to unveil it just because they want to show that they’re a great, you know, military power. That does n’t necessarily mean that it actually gives them the capabilities they would require or in the quantity they would require,” said the DoD official.
This sentiment aligns with previous US military assessments, such as when Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, former Pacific Air Forces Commander, downplayed the capabilities of China’s J- 20 stealth fighter in 2022, suggesting it was not a significant concern. The DoD intelligence official concurred that while the J- 20 is a capable system, it did not meet all of China’s initial expectations.
Moreover, the briefing underscored China’s broader military modernization efforts, including the significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal, which US officials estimate could exceed 1, 000 warheads by 2030. However, the efficacy of China’s military might is questionable, highlighted by reports of corruption within its ranks leading to defective equipment and ineffective leadership. Despite these challenges, the US is preparing for a potential protracted conflict, emphasizing readiness over complacency.
