Chinese Engine Development

I have indeed no idea...

ACuriousPLAFan said:

Seen some on Weibo claiming that the AEP500 = WJ-10, and we've also seen that the WJ-10 has 8 blades instead of only 6. Could this be a further development of the WJ-6 family, or some new type of turboprop engine that we may have seen somewhere that isn't related to both WJ-6 and WJ-10/AEP-500?

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AEP-500 has 8 blades but military variant WJ-10 will also have 8 blades ?? this one nobody knows.

WJ-6C has over 3200KW maximum thrust
AEP-500 has 5000KW maximum thrust

this engine has to be somewhat AEP-500 related or completely new variant of WJ-6 family.. it couldn't be a totally new turboprop engine outside AEP-500/WJ-6 because this doesn't make sense..

A collage of the new turboprop made from cropped originals.

The engine cowlings look similar to the one used here in MA700.

There is a later satellite photo of the MA700 with some sort of engines I think.

sunnymaxi said:

2. it could be the military variant of AEP-500 aka WJ-10.

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I believe this is the case. The aircraft is engine testbed to certify AEP-500. There is almost zero chance that it is related to WJ-6 because the much larger intake size and arrangement meaning air flow rate is vastly differnt, so are the compressors etc. etc., has to be a different engine.

ACuriousPLAFan said:

Seen some on Weibo claiming that the AEP500 = WJ-10.

Besides, a couple years ago, we've came across this poster by AECC(?) that the WJ-10 has 8 propeller blades instead of 6.

Could this be a further development of the WJ-6 family, or some new type of turboprop engine that we may have seen somewhere that isn't related to both WJ-6 and WJ-10/AEP-500?

View attachment 136965

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The 8 blades concept was from PW150C, I believe that when AECC made their poster they took the same idea of propellers for AEP500. Anyway I think number of blades is not part of definition of an engine but part of aircraft.

Here is CAAC news depiciting the PW engine.

sunnymaxi said:

View attachment 136966

AEP-500 has 8 blades but military variant WJ-10 will also have 8 blades ?? this one nobody knows.

WJ-6C has over 3200KW maximum thrust
AEP-500 has 5000KW maximum thrust

this engine has to be somewhat AEP-500 related or completely new variant of WJ-6 family.. it couldn't be a totally new turboprop engine outside AEP-500/WJ-6 because this doesn't make sense..

Click to expand...

taxiya said:

I believe this is the case. The aircraft is engine testbed to certify AEP-500. There is almost zero chance that it is related to WJ-6 because the much larger intake size and arrangement meaning air flow rate is vastly differnt, so are the compressors etc. etc., has to be a different engine.

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Saw some comments on Twitter and Weibo recently which suggested/claimed that the new turboprop engine seen on the Y-8 testbed platform could be a derated variant of AEP-500, known as AEP-400. Following the namesake, the AEP-400 will have a power output of 4000kW instead of 5000kW.



The AEP-400 is said to be meant for:
- Y-8;
- Y-9; and/or
- KJ-600 (either).
Whereas the AEP-500 is said to be meant for:
- MA700;
- KJ-600 (either); and/or
- China's next-gen medium airlifter (namely Y-30) to succeed the Y-8/9 family.

Is this anywhere true/likely?

ACuriousPLAFan said:

Saw some comments on Twitter and Weibo recently which suggested/claimed that the new engine seen on the Y8 testbed could be a derated version of AEP-500, known as AEP-400. Following the namesake, the AEP-400 will have a power output of 4000kW instead of 5000kW.

The AEP-400 is said to be meant for:
- Y-9; and/or
- KJ-600 (either).
Whereas the AEP-500 is said to be meant for:
- MA700;
- KJ-600 (either); and/or
- China's next-gen medium airlifter (namely Y-30)

Is this anywhere true/likely?

View attachment 136992

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i have heard this AEP-400 engine but hardly any authentic information i get about this project. the biggest hurdle about ''Turboprop/Turboshaft'' is lack of authentic information due to nature of the project. when it comes engine news, turbofan stands tall.

so it is even become more difficult to get any information regarding these projects.

but one thing is confirmed. the tested machine is next generation high thrust turboprop engine and is in final stage of development. airborne testing.

this was much needed engine for PLAAF/PLAN in order to replace older WJ-6.

I'm not sure if AEP500 is still a thing. An official report on a 2024 meeting on materials certification only mentioned AEP400 and not AEP500. Given that the plan was for AEP500 to receive certification in 2028 it should have been discussed. Perhaps they're only expecting flatrated applications so they are only going to certify the engine for flatrated uses and renamed it AEP400.