Chinese Engine Development

Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
ENOUGH!

No more endless, meaningless arguments about China having to partner with Russia or anyone else. It has completely derailed the thread for several pages.

Time will tell what China does and it is useless to argue about such a thing.

NO MORE. Such posts will be deleted and the poster warned.

Post actual news about what China IS doing with engine development, and the specifics of those engines. Stop the comparisons too.

DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS MODERATION

WalkingTall3.jpg
 
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Ultra

Ultra

Junior Member
Found this by accident - quite interesting and it really gives us some perspective:
(They look like North Korea back then! :D)

Chinese jet engine factory Circa 1997!
 
Ultra

Ultra

Junior Member
thunderchief said:
Hard to tell. Personally for me, Block 2 was a bit of disappointment . It arrived much latter then expected, with very few improvements. Even air-refueling probe is to be added latter . Now they announce AESA radar with accompanying problems of higher power consumption , which would most likely require something more powerful then existing RD-93 . But on the other side, both RD-93MA and WS-13 are far from being operational . So I'm not very optimistic . Let's first wait and see what would happen with Block 2 production run .
Click to expand...

Dizasta1 said:
Heard through the rumor mill that JF-17 Thunders will be getting RD-93MA for its Block-IIIs. Dunno if that would enough to juice up an AESA. But it sure as hell would improve Thunder's speed and agility. And I wonder whether the Chinese would actually get that WS-13 uprated engine out anytime soon. Either way, with the French option off the table, its only natural to go for the Russian or the Chinese options. Heck there is no way in hell that Pakistan Air Force would go for an American option, even if it were free!
Click to expand...

It sounds like RD-33 (RD-93) series are not able to give Thunder the juice it needs.
So, I will just throw this crazy idea out there... why not fit Thunder with the very powerful AL-31F? Like the J-10?

I know they are completely different engine, but the size is quite "similar" :


RD-33
  • Length: 4,229 mm (166.50 in)
  • Diameter: 1,040 mm (40.94 in)
  • Dry weight: 1,055 kg (2,326 lb)

AL-31F
  • Length: 4,990 millimetres (196 in)
  • Diameter: 905 millimetres (35.6 in) inlet; 1,280 millimetres (50 in) maximum external
  • Dry weight: 1,570 kilograms (3,460 lb)


Basically, the difference is 76.1 cm in length, and 24 cm in diameter.

It would probably be quite a major modification to the airframe to fit the AL-31F (plus the weight and aerodynamics needs to be recalibrated), but since each block of JF-17 will require airframe modification, so why not?

AL-31F should have no problem to provide enough power to juice the AESA radar for Thunder since J-10B is already getting an AESA so it shouldn't be a problem. And AL-31F should also give Thunder significant speed boost, and combat capability.
 
Deino

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Ultra said:
It sounds like RD-33 (RD-93) series are not able to give Thunder the juice it needs.
So, I will just throw this crazy idea out there... why not fit Thunder with the very powerful AL-31F? Like the J-10?

I know they are completely different engine, but the size is quite "similar" :

RD-33
  • Length: 4,229 mm (166.50 in)
  • Diameter: 1,040 mm (40.94 in)
  • Dry weight: 1,055 kg (2,326 lb)
AL-31F
  • Length: 4,990 millimetres (196 in)
  • Diameter: 905 millimetres (35.6 in) inlet; 1,280 millimetres (50 in) maximum external
  • Dry weight: 1,570 kilograms (3,460 lb)
Basically, the difference is 76.1 cm in length, and 24 cm in diameter.

It would probably be quite a major modification to the airframe to fit the AL-31F (plus the weight and aerodynamics needs to be recalibrated), but since each block of JF-17 will require airframe modification, so why not?

AL-31F should have no problem to provide enough power to juice the AESA radar for Thunder since J-10B is already getting an AESA so it shouldn't be a problem. And AL-31F should also give Thunder significant speed boost, and combat capability.
Click to expand...

Dear Ultra ... simply forget it ! ... and we already discussed that to death.

Yes it would, surely it would ... in the end it would be a type very similar if nor equal in performance to the J-10, it would de facto be an in-house competitor and as such simply not worth all efforts.

To admit You say it is only a 24cm increase in diameter ... but You omit the length and therefore center of gravity .. in the end it would require a new intake system, a new wing, new fuselage + gear ... nearly everything and for what.

So, please leave the JF-17 like it is ... and all others who want an AL-31FN powered fighter should simply buy the J-10.

Deino
 
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