China has already built a Stealth bomber, called the Xi'an H-8 (first flew on January 15, 2007). It is the world's second Stealth bomber, and is more advanced than the American B-2. Because the project is top-secret, little is known about the aircraft. It is a Stealth, strategic, and heavy bomber rolled into one. It carries a crew of two. It could fly as fast as Mach 1.4, has a range of 11,000 kilometers (without refuelling), and can carry over 18 tonnes of bomb load. It can carry twelve Stealth cruise missiles (each with a range of 3,000 km) on each of the two weapons bays. It could carry an additional three nuclear missiles (350-kilotons each). The bomber will be mass-produced and will enter active service in the PLAAF by 2010. The bomber will replace the old H-6 bombers that the PLAAF have in active service.
Here are only SOME of the features: -high-tech blended wing-body design -fly-by-wire controls -angled fuselage -internal fuel tanks. -carbon fiber and composite materials -rotating weapons profile bay -mapping radar, satellite data links and advanced digital mapping systems -nanometer coating -4 turbo-fan engines - based on the WS-10A
