I am well behind in understanding the various engine models used on the J-20, can a brief summary be made as to which is which (mid is WS-10C2 as you mention), and especially the thrust ratings?
We quite literally have no solid idea. If I had to hazard a guess, it would be something similar to this F110 roadmap from GE (reasonable too since the WS-10 family has a linage that can be traced to the F110):
I'd (conservatively) expect the WS-10C2 to be at or above F110-GE-134 (listed as the F110-GE-129EFE+ above) in terms of thrust rating. But a bolder estimate would be that the WS-10C itself already is at that level (150+ kN ish), and the WS-10C2 being an equivalent of the fully realised WS-15 pre-revamp (170-175 kN).
It is completely within the realm of possibility though, that the WS-10C2 represents an overhaul in the lifespan direction instead, like the F414 EDE proposal instead of the EPE. But I would assume that since the WS-10C2 is only a very short stopgap (hopefully) before the WS-15 arrives, it wouldn't make much sense to keep them around for long. And we know that the J-20A has reworked DSI bump geometries to accommodate for the WS-15 (which is allegedly has a noticeably higher mass flow than the WS-10C), which the WS-10C2 is compatible with, and I guess you can put forth an argument of that as an anecdote for WS-10C2 being an EPE overhaul instead of EDE.
And IMHO an EPE overhaul makes more sense to require a whole new designation than an EDE overhaul.
(Another theory is that the WS-10C2 is actually a VCE/ACE operational testbed of sorts but I think we can all agree that the above is way more likely.)
(I would be completely glad to move this to the Engine Development thread if the mods deem this as too off-topic)
