Russia’s New PAK DA Stealth Bomber — Trying to Rival US Air Force B-21?

Meet the PAK DA: Pure coincidence is not likely in that both Russia and China are now fast-tracking new stealth bomber platforms in what could be seen as a transparent effort to compete with the emerging U.S. Air Force B-21. 

Competing Stealth Bombers

While China’s H-20 is reasonably well known and written up as a significant concern in the Pentagon’s annual China report for its expanding range and potential stealth properties, there is less known about the Russian PAK DA bomber.

Russia’s TASS news agency reports that initial prototypes will emerge as soon as this year in 2023 and begin production in 2027.

The extent of the aircraft’s stealth properties is, in many respects, likely extremely difficult if not impossible to discern.

Does it use any kind of radar-absorbent coating materials, thermal management technology, or other critical stealth properties?

This may indeed be quite stealthy, and available specs say it can take off with a maximum weight of 30 tons, considerably larger than both the B-2 and B-21.

Its larger size may account for its much larger max payload weight, as the B-2 can reportedly only take off at 20-ton max weight and the B-21 is even lighter at 15 tons.

However, while a larger, heavier bomber able to carry more munitions can extend mission dwell time, it can decrease stealth effectiveness and potentially be more vulnerable to air defenses and air threats.