The 'Offical' Military Hardware Page (H-8) Closed

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

All right, this week's topic is the H-8, China's new superbomber. Info on this bomber is rare, China reveld it in a press confence last month and like all original Chinese aircraft, they say very little.

What is known for sure is that it is a stealthy flying wing like the B-2. Military intel states that it is better than the B-2 in most areas. The areas are as following: Range, Payload, Max. Altitude, Speed, and Fuel Consumtion. The only area the B-2 is superior is stealth.

This is not the first aircraft the Chinese has called H-8, the first was a modified H-6 that never got off the ground. So they just reused the number. Also, some steckulate that the H-8 is a enlarged verison of a US Navy stealth bomber, the A-12 Avenger II. How the Chinese would've gotten the blueprints when they have been destoryed, I don't know.

[MGZ]

first off, the plane in that pic looks kinda doofy esp. for a plane meant for the navy. Since when has the USN gotten into single-purpose bombers like that(aside from its role in the Doolittle raid on Tokyo in WW2)? I thought it was mostly into fighters and fighter-bombers.

Secondly, what are the H-8's specs compared to a conventional bomber like the B52? Because if it only outperforms a B2 Spirit in those areas I'm not particularly impressed with the thing; mostly this is because since it isn't as or more stealthy than a B2 US military probably has some somewhat reliable ways of tracking it (from its own experience in testing the B2 and for when/if the H-8 does get into service) and could share/sell those methods with others.

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

Well first off, the A-12 did have a secondary air to air role. And the plane that it was going to replace, the A-6, was originally designed as a bomber. It was modified after awhile for EW duty.

Did you know that had the USAF got their way, the B-2 would have REPLACED the B-52. In almost all areas(don't include stealth), the B-2 is on par with the B-52. As for tracking the H-8, nope. The only reason we can track a B-2 is due to a transponder that the pilot turns on when over the US. Without that transponder, the USAF can't track a B-2.

Lastly, the pic is just an artist impression.

[MGZ]

first point - cool. interesting stuff.
second point - are you absolutely certain? the USAF has said it doesn't plan to retire the B-52 until 2040 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B52#Future_of_the_B-52

tracking point - didn't know that. however, I wouldn't rule out some kind of top-secret tracking system that could detect either the B-2 or the H-8 (the sort of thing you keep as a surprise for potential conflicts). not saying there is, but we can't say for certain there isn't

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

Read it again, I said 'if the USAF HAD gotten their way, the B-2 would have REPLACED the B-52'. I never said that it would replace the BUFF.

[Solus]

wow. well at a thought, im not sure this H-8 project will get very far. in military technology, ive only ever seen things that are designed and built turn out to be quite unreliable and awkward to use. some of their rifles for example. i cant remember their names, nor have i used them myself however i have heard from people who are familiar with the weapon that it isnt all that reliable.

now im only assuming that the H-8 will follow the same trend, if it doesnt, congrats to them.

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

Well Soulless, the Chinese are very secretive and shady when it comes it comes to their weapons. Most of the time, you only hear about them when it is already in production, so it isn't a longshot when I say that they most likely have a few number of H-8 in service by now.

As for the messed up weapons, the Chinese are nortorues(sp?) for copying things. Most of their failures are the result of bad copying.

[Solus]

Well Soulless, the Chinese are very secretive and shady when it comes it comes to their weapons. Most of the time, you only hear about them when it is already in production, so it isn't a longshot when I say that they most likely have a few number of H-8 in service by now.

As for the messed up weapons, the Chinese are nortorues(sp?) for copying things. Most of their failures are the result of bad copying.

Notorious?

lol yeah i the weapon im thinking of is a smaller velocity larger caliber, possibly 9mm or similar? heck maybe even a .22 its magazine is fairly slender. but its a bullpup configuration, its sighting arrangement kind of reminds me of a version of a SL-80. but it looks better than the SL-80, the only thing going good for it.

even tho the rifle in question is unrelated, it seems to be the norm from what ive observed in their military hardware... multiple rifles in fact... one other rifle, again i dont know the name, requires the user to hold the magazine in the weapon in use. im guessing it comes down to a quality error to do with the magazine release lever but still, if they cant fix an error on a small item, im not too confident in their large scale products.

but i do admit, this is another interesting topic good idea btw with these threads ^_^

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

Most of the guns the Chinese uses are varents of the Soviet AK-47. Hell, in Iraq, we have found AK's that have Russian stocks, Hungarian Barrels, and Chinese recevers and fires like a newly made AK. That goes to show how good a gun it is. The Chinese loves the AK.

[Solus]

Most of the guns the Chinese uses are varents of the Soviet AK-47. Hell, in Iraq, we have found AK's that have Russian stocks, Hungarian Barrels, and Chinese recevers and fires like a newly made AK. That goes to show how good a gun it is. The Chinese loves the AK.

well its a robust weapon that stood the test of time. tho personally i dislike it, i admit its a fantastic weapon.

but regarding my point on Chinese weapons quality, i think you understand what i mean. the H-8 program looks interesting i admit, im looking forward to see what comes of it.

[MGZ]

I voted 'something else'. I think next week we could have a wonderful discussion on small arms

[Demon Lord Razgriz]

What small arm do you want to talk about? Ex. M-4, P-90, AK-47...

[Solus]

i think he may be generalising in small arms. i mean ive already mentioned 2 small arms of the chinese and its not even the topic (oops)

[MGZ]

the topic of small arms is broad enough that one doesn't need to have a lot of information about what exactly is being discussed (as with the H-8 and Russia's version of the F-22). It can also lead to a good debate on what people consider the better weapons.

[Solus]

the topic of small arms is broad enough that one doesn't need to have a lot of information about what exactly is being discussed (as with the H-8 and Russia's version of the F-22). It can also lead to a good debate on what people consider the better weapons.

agreed. the only environments ive ever discussed weaponry is with many under the label "anonymous" thus never really having a personal side to it.

Back to the H-8, do we know its armaments? can it defend itself at all?