China's V/STOL studies, concepts & considerations
- Thread starter kickars
- Start date
Most probably because the shaft-driven lift-fan design employed by the F-35B is the best pathway that current S/VTOL technologies can achieve within the given constrains of a fighter jet.
Last edited:
Two more S/VTOL-related tender documents. Posted by Captain on Weibo.
If people here also frequently visit the Chinese space thread, they should be aware that China has been and still is actively working on lots of programs that may never end up in actual application. Just for CZ-9, there are YF-130 (480t), YF-135 (360t), YF-XXX (240t), YF-90 (240t) and YF-215 (200t) being actively developped. It is almost certain that most of them will never get a chance to be used in CZ-9 or any rocket. China has started lots of programs some ten years ago when China's economy growth exploded. Many of the programs are meant to catch up the top level in the world and to master the knowhow even if their use cases have gone. China knows that. So seeing some long running program progressing does not mean China is going to put it in use.
I do kinda of wonder what this new VTOL aircraft could look like. Will this aircraft be mainly a strike aircraft or will it be more multirole like F-35B? and what generation will this aircraft be closer to, perhaps a tailless lambda more like J-XDS rather than a single engined J-35?
For now, it's very unlikely that PLAN MC will operate aircraft.
In US it's a thing for historical reasons (WW2 legacy, which survived during the cold war because USMC could be deployed by the president without Congress).
Even there it's long since redundant, as US president just can do whatever he wants. Institutional inertia.
In China's context, it's meaningless.
The engine for the STOVL prototype, it seems. 2200°K TiT, BPR of 0.55, OPR of 30, etc.
I'm assuming this engine exists already and has been tested considering one of the tenders said the clutch has been tested with load while hooked up to a twin spool turbofan. It'll be difficult to test the clutch to its full design spec without this specific engine IMO, don't think any other low bypass turbofan core has enough power to drive such a fan at full power.
