Is the Chinese Replacement Bomber Delayed by Problems with jet Engines?

Everyone's favorite blog to hate has come out to speculate whether or not the reason we have not seen a new Chinese bomber in development is due to the problems China has had with developing their indigenous jet engines. We all know China has serious metallurgy problems and that this has impacted their ability to produce their own fighters, etc. of different stripes. The Chinese have, in fact, admitted as such saying until they can build a better jet engine their J-20 fighter will not perform as well as they desire. They have been getting around their problems by buying Russian engines, but no one wants to be dependent on Putin...

The question becomes: do we find WiB's conjecture plausible? Are the Chinese so hobbled by the lack of good engines they have postponed developing their own strategic bomber?

I think WiB's reason to be flawed. The engine problem has not stopped the Chinese from working on the J-20 and engine performance for a fighter is just as critical for a bomber, if not more so! Engines can be swapped out. Aircraft development takes time and longer than anticipated no matter who makes the bird. If the Chinese have elected to not start a bomber project, it is likely for other reasons, not the engine problem.

There are rumors of a Chinese flying wing bomber, but no proof and nothing solid. That has never stopped an aircraft from existing, of course, or for our wildest imaginations to run away with us either. We will just have to wait and see.

warisboring.com...

a reply to: anzha

Yes and no. It's slowed the development of other aircraft, such as the Y-20. They delayed it a little while until the better engines were ready, and it could meet the performance requirements. The initial engines couldn't lift the cargo they wanted lifted, so they took development slow until they had better powerplants ready.

a reply to: anzha

They have been getting around their problems by buying Russian engines, but no one wants to be dependent on Putin…

Quantity is its own quality. The Russians and Chinese understand that well.

Strategic bombers are a holdover form the days of WWII and the Cold War, still employed by countries imposing force upon others. In defense mode they are outmoded, being replaced by a plethora of missiles.

Nm.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Any thoughts on a potential Chinese flying wing style bomber? I hadn't heard that one before.

a reply to: Bfirez

I heard it a few years ago. There's a lot of confusion over the H-8 designation, with some saying it's a flying wing, similar in size to the B-2 with a radically different aft section, while the original H-8 designation was for an improved H-6, which would have been larger with 4 improved engines instead of the two the H-6 had but was cancelled before it ever flew. It would have been powered by Rolls Royce Spey engines.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
Nm.

Hey, what happened to Major Kong?

For high quality steel they usually import from Australia.

a reply to: intrptr

He rode that sucker all the way in!

originally posted by: Bfirez
a reply to: intrptr

He rode that sucker all the way in!

Despite the world best efforts to prevent "nookler combat, toe do toe wit tha rooskies"

Major Kong found a way…

originally posted by: intrptr

originally posted by: Bfirez
a reply to: intrptr

He rode that sucker all the way in!

Despite the world best efforts to prevent "nookler combat, toe do toe wit tha rooskies"

Major Kong found a way…

We still have air ro air nuclear missiles(in mothball) so quantity dont have jack all to do with winning.