Chinese Engine Development
- Thread starter jackbh
- Start date
Interestingly, WS-18A production date puts at 2009. So are we seeing the D-30K engine on Y-20 is in fact a domestic made WS-18A (D-30K2)?
Given that PLA are very paranoid about depending on foreign import for its military, Safe to say Y-20 début also got to do with successful secure of domestic supply.
Tang said in his March interview that so far Y-20 flies on Russian engines.
One can expect if they were WS-18, it would be publicised at every headline.
That again rising question about Galleon table credibility.
Then probably the new H-6K we see are using the WS-18A engine.. This will probably lesser the danger of foreign engine import cut off in case of any scenario.
The chart puts WZ-9 turbo shaft for WZ-10 attack helo production date at 2009 which is quite accurate since we are seeing WZ-10 helo mass production started around 2010.
In case of any scenario, I'd prefer proven import product on my strategic triada element so far supplies last...you see, Russian's just don't know where specific engine will go - to PLAAF Il-76 fleet or H-6K. And again, WS-18A on H-6K would be fanfared everywhere, which not the case.
Bad drug habit needs to be kick anyway.. PLAAF has a choices of engines for testing the dangerous task of prototype and they made their choice with domestic WS-10A for J-16 and J-15S which is a good start.
I do not think it will be hard for PLAAF to choose if WS-18 has proves itself. And I expect Y-20 project to be hassled completed without waiting the completion of WS-20 engine since PLAAF is badly needed of strategic airlift. If the Y-20 enter service with D-30K2 engine. I do not expect them to tell the public the engine is WS-18A or Russia import D-30K2.
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Five years before IOC is enough to make progress in engines, let's just wait and see.
WS10A, WS13, WS18 are all same generation of technology.
The day China mass production all above type of engines is the day they truly mastered that generation of turbo fan engine.
I just don't see how the current claim of WS10A is production, and then WS13 has issues can be consistent. They are all belong to same generation.
The day China mass production all above type of engines is the day they truly mastered that generation of turbo fan engine.
I just don't see how the current claim of WS10A is production, and then WS13 has issues can be consistent. They are all belong to same generation.
I would be very surprised if WS-18 is actually in service on any aircraft right now. They bought a large number of D-30KP2. It makes no sense for them to purchase that many if they can mass produce WS-18.