China air force says developing new long-range bomber

BEIJING – China's air force says it's developing a new type of strategic bomber, adding to recent progress in large aircraft production.

Air force chief Ma Xiaotian told state media at an open-day event on Thursday that the bomber would significantly increase China's long-range strike ability. He gave no other details about the aircraft or when it would be introduced, saying only that "you will see it in the future."

China last year revealed its new generation H-6K strategic bomber equipped with the DH-20 land-attack cruise missile, giving it the ability to hit targets as far away as Australia. Only Russia and the U.S. are currently able to launch cruise missiles from the air.

The plane has since flown training missions over the western Pacific and patrols over the South China Sea.