Not quite. What about china´s UCAV programs? already they had to strap a RD-93 engine on Sharp sword UCAV. China needs an engine in that thrust range, otherwise all UCAVs will have to be propelled by russian engines.
Chinese Engine Development
- Thread starter jackbh
- Start date
Not quite. What about china´s UCAV programs? already they had to strap a RD-93 engine on Sharp sword UCAV. China needs an engine in that thrust range, otherwise all UCAVs will have to be propelled by russian engines.
shen
Senior Member
Don't think turbine blades can be printed yet. But western engine makes are planning to use many printed parts in new generation jet engines.
A little googling, it seems there are research into printing turbine blade. This paper talks about titanium aluminum alloy.
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No big deal, flying wing UCAVs are relatively unimportant at this stage and are important as demonstrators for the future. It'll be years until anyone gets them in the air in meaningful numbers. Recent noise from the USN makes it sound like UCLASS may not even be a proper flying wing.
Even if chinese UCAVs are powered by RD-93s that isn't a heavy bottleneck, it's not like Sharp Sword is a particular threat to Russia's own dynamic UCAV export industry the way JF-17 could potentially challenge Mig-29 for third world buyers.
I'm more interested to see how long it takes them to spit out WS-13. IT's supposed to be more or less a copy of RD-93... None of WS-10s CFM core derived shenanigans.
It is normal to use reliable engine for new projects. But even if they have tons of experience they still often import trusted jets. Look at LCA, Ching quo, Mitsubushi F2, T50 etc etc...
We all know China is very busy in making improvements to already long time ago started projects. We will see them gradually replace the imported engines. So, instead of making negative remarks about RD33 used in Chinese UCAV one should try to understand the logic behind it. It is not a matter of China making engines but when replacing the imported ones. I expect between 1-4 years you will see everything produced and improved in China.
We all know China is very busy in making improvements to already long time ago started projects. We will see them gradually replace the imported engines. So, instead of making negative remarks about RD33 used in Chinese UCAV one should try to understand the logic behind it. It is not a matter of China making engines but when replacing the imported ones. I expect between 1-4 years you will see everything produced and improved in China.
dynamic UCAV industry? russia hasnt produced any UCAV yet. At least nothing in the range of Sharp sword. I dont think they give UCAVs much priority.
I'd say, dynamic import industry, if we'll recall IAI Searcher -> Forpost CKD, Shiebel S-100 and endless types of microdrones but now it seems to come to the end.
in May MiG got R&D contract for X-45 sized UCAV that will be built 'using Skat experience', and Sukhoi started it work on Okhotnik several years ago, and both have many interesting ideas under sleeve, at least those I've seen from MiG. But apparently, most of UCAV are lookalike, just NG's cranked kite planform is more interesting (and scalable and can be easily modified).
Sharp Sword appearance only adding pace here.
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plawolf
Lieutenant General
I think you missed the sarcasm.
I just wonder how mighty WS-15 core based high bypass engine listed as producing weaky 13 tons
Hyperwarp
Captain
I don't know what issues/compromises/problems occur when going from a Low-bypass turbofan to a high-bypass one.
13 tons is off-course less than, lets say the PS-90 series, but is 13 tons too weak for a Y-20/C919 type A/C?
Do you think that WS-15 is not as powerful as people think it is?