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China’s upcoming Changchun Airshow could bring the hotly awaited appearance of Xian H-20 subsonic stealth bomber, WZ-8 hypersonic surveillance drone, and sixth-generation delta diamond fighter aircraft into the light.
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The People’s Liberation Army Air Force showcase featuring aircraft, ground equipment, weapons, and aerobatic shows has been announced to take place in Changchun, the capital of north-east China’s Jilin Province, from 26 to 30 July this year.
The event has previously acted as a public debut for the PLA’s YU-20 large military aerial tanker in August 2022 alongside the country’s latest equipment including Chengdu J-20 twinjet all-weather stealth fighter, Shenyang J-16 tandem multirole fighter jets, attack and transport helicopters.
Even a ground appearance inside one of the indoor exhibition halls or at the outdoor exhibition zones this July from a sixth-generation delta diamond fighter jet, WZ-8 hypersonic drone or Xian H-20 stealth bomber, would create international headlines.
Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has previously published concept art of a tailless and finless designed, twin engine next-generation stealth fighter similar to the US NGAD and an aircraft model was displayed in Zhuhai last year.
China’s Xian H-20 strategic stealth bomber has also been shrouded in secrecy since it begun development in 2008 and touted as an aircraft of similar design to the US B-21 Raider strategic bomber.
Aviation Industry Corporation of #China posts video showing off a new fighter design, possibly an under-development 6th generation fighter aircraft featuring a diamond-delta wing and tailless design. pic.twitter.com/ba3POUhOHG
— The STRATCOM Bureau (@OSPSF) January 31, 2023
AVIC’s WZ-8 hypersonic drone has received considerably more public attention with examples fielded in military parades. The penetrating intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drone can reportedly reach speeds of Mach 3-6 and an altitude of 100,000 to 160,000 feet as it makes a high-speed run over time-sensitive targets.
