AEP-500 is the project, actually started by the orders directly from the higher authorities.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.
project approved in 2017 and came into public in 2018.. prototype constantly being displayed in all Zhuhai air shows. AEP-500 program going as per the plan. nothing has changed. 2028 certification date is not an official. it is randomly given by some Weibo users. certification timeline depend on, how desperately Xian Aircraft wants those engines..
AEP-500 project has completed.
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AEP-500 and this recently announced AEP-400 are next generation turboprop engines being developed to replace older WJ-6.. if you see my older massages, PLAAF is not much happy with WJ-6 engine performance.. cruise speed and fuel consumption is not really upto the mark.
as i said before, Military engines supply chain is interconnected. so it is easy to develop these machines. AEP-400 developed from AEP-500 is the showcase of strong foundation of Gas turbine industry built by China. in just short span of time, they developed AEP-400.