Chinese Engine Development
- Thread starter jackbh
- Start date
Originally the WS-15 was rumored to be using DD6 I think. Given how many new superalloys seem to be popping up in the research literature lately though I wouldn’t be surprised if the WS-15 could be using something else other than either the DD9 or DD6.
Didn't gongke say WS-13 enhanced version fly in FC-31 prototype in July 2017? Why do that if there is no potential customer? IMO if that WS-13E is real, FC-31 progress could accelerate in 2018.
It might be a good opportunity to also test the engine, which they will surely need for other planes.
There's actually no immediate need for the WS-13E.
The various UAV projects use the WS-12, the non-afterburning version, and no one wants the FC-31 with or without WS-13E. The only potential use for it is as a Chinese engine option for the JF-17 but since Russia has shown no inclination of shooting themselves in the foot by cutting themselves off from RD-93 export profits, it's unlikely the WS-13E will ever be needed for the JF-17.
Gongke also said there's mild grumbling within the PLAAF and AVIC towards 624th for tinkering with the WS-13E project instead of conducting new research. 624th's rationale is they want to bring an actual engine project to fruition instead just doing theoretical stuff and in order to convince AVIC that they're competent and experienced enough to handle a next-gen engine project independently, they need to prove themselves by finishing a project of decent difficulty, which led them to develop the WS-13E. Previously, they developed the core for the WS-15 and was intending to fully develop it themselves but AVIC transferred the project to Liming instead which kind of annoyed 624th so they're not taking any chances with AVIC questioning their experience and are determined to finish WS-13E before taking on the WS-19 to mitigate the chances of having the project taken away from them again.
What I meant was depending on how the WS-13E's design has been revised, improvements that are tested on it can trickle down to non-afterburning versions. Either way it seems the WS-13E is more or less on the tail end of completion, so they might as well test it. The feedback won't just be useful for the engine itself after all, but also for improving their own technical expertise.
Important words are "COULD" ... but since it "DOES NOT" there are other explanations.
Either since these reports were wrong and there are still issues with that engine or the specifications are not the way that all customers want one.?
To admit for me the WS-13-saga is slowly more or less a refrain of the WP-14 Kunlun story.
Deino
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
I thought they transferred WS-15 development to the 606th institute (Shenyang Aeroengine Research Institute), which isn't exactly Liming (Liming's involved in manufacturing). Didn't AVIC give manufacturing to XAC due to Liming's faults with early WS-10 production?
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I always thought Liming/410 is more of a factory. Even though they involve heavily in the implementation, production and testing, WS15 is still not finished design and prototyping. So it has to be 606 who leads the effort at this stage.
The early version of WS-15 should be done by 624 in SiChuan.