Latest Stealth Bomber Test SHOCKS U.S.

China’s shadowy JH-XX stealth bomber program threatens American military dominance in the Pacific, with new prototypes spotted targeting U.S. bases in Guam and Japan while the Biden-era Pentagon scrambled to keep pace.

Story Snapshot

JH-XX stealth bomber designed specifically to strike U.S. bases in Guam and Japan with 2,000 km combat radius
Pentagon confirms active development despite Chinese secrecy, with late 2024 test flights captured on video
Supersonic medium-range bomber complements China’s H-20 strategic platform, replacing aging Soviet-era aircraft
U.S. intelligence first documented the program in 2019, but operational deployment not expected until 2030s

China’s Secret Bomber Emerges from Shadows

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force is developing the JH-XX, a tailless, three-engine stealth bomber first captured on video during late 2024 test flights. U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed the program’s existence in 2019 Pentagon reports, identifying it as a medium-range strike platform designed to fill capability gaps beyond China’s Second Island Chain. The aircraft features a modified delta wing configuration and supersonic capabilities, distinguishing it from the larger H-20 strategic bomber. Shenyang Aircraft Corporation likely leads development, leveraging expertise from the J-35 stealth fighter program under state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

Targeting American Interests in the Pacific

The JH-XX’s estimated 2,000 kilometer combat radius places critical U.S. military installations squarely in its crosshairs. Guam’s Anderson Air Force Base and Japanese bases housing American forces represent primary targets in China’s anti-access/area denial strategy. This capability directly challenges American power projection in the Western Pacific, a region vital to defending Taiwan and maintaining freedom of navigation. The bomber’s stealth characteristics and supersonic speed would enable it to penetrate air defenses that currently protect these installations. This represents a fundamental shift in the military balance that the previous administration failed to adequately address.

Decades of Communist Military Buildup

China’s bomber development traces back to the H-6, a 1950s-era Soviet Tu-16 copy that remains the PLAAF’s primary long-range strike platform today. Strategic bomber modernization accelerated in the early 2000s under Xi Jinping’s military transformation, with Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corporation leading the H-20 flying-wing bomber program announced in 2016. The parallel JH-XX program emerged to address medium-range supersonic strike requirements that the subsonic H-20 cannot fulfill. PLAAF Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Wang Wei stated in March 2024 that no H-20 development bottlenecks existed, claiming a reveal would come “very soon,” though U.S. intelligence projects operational deployment in the 2030s.

Intelligence Gaps and Uncertain Timelines

U.S. analysts face significant challenges assessing the JH-XX program due to Chinese military opacity and reliance on social media leaks. Photographs of a second J-36 prototype emerged in 2025 showing revised air intake designs, but no official Chinese confirmation exists. Some Pentagon analysts question whether observed prototypes represent production aircraft or merely technology demonstrators. The 2026 Pentagon report confirms both H-20 and JH-XX development remains active, with the JH-XX designated for regional nuclear and conventional strike missions. Limited PLAAF aerial refueling capabilities currently constrain the strategic reach of both platforms, though this represents a technical hurdle China continues working to overcome.

American Response Required

These Chinese bomber programs accelerate a dangerous arms race that threatens regional stability and American security commitments. The JH-XX’s ability to strike U.S. bases undermines deterrence frameworks that have maintained peace in the Pacific for decades. Taiwan, Japan, and India face direct threats from these systems, while the broader international community watches China’s military assertiveness grow unchecked. The Trump administration now inherits a strategic challenge years in the making, requiring robust responses including accelerated B-21 Raider production, enhanced missile defense systems, and strengthened alliances. American military superiority cannot be taken for granted when adversaries invest billions in capabilities specifically designed to neutralize our advantages.