Experts see advantages in strategic bombers

The Air Force's next-generation bomber for China must have strong penetration and precision strike capabilities as well as stealth technology, according to experts watching the People's Liberation Army.

In an article published recently on the Air Force website, Zhang Lijun, a researcher at the PLA Logistics Command College, and Li Wei, a professor at National Defense University, said those capabilities are essential for a next-generation bomber. But considering China's overall technological ability, designers should set reasonable and achievable goals for the aircraft, they said.

It was not the first time experts have spoken about a new strategic bomber. According to an earlier report carried in Kanwa Defense Review, a Canada-based publication focusing on defense technology, PLA strategy researchers urged the Air Force to prioritize the development of a long-range strategic bomber at an internal meeting in mid-2015.