Chinese Engine Development

Centrist said:

Let me understand this, so the WS-10 is in mass production for the J-11 series
BUT
the WS-10a is a redesigned version that is going to be used in BOTH the J-11/J-10 aircraft? That doesn't make much sense. I thought the WS-10a had a redesigned gearbox for use ONLY on the J-10

Is there such a thing as the WS-10H for the J-15? If so, which engine is it based on...the WS-10 or WS-10a?

Click to expand...

This TV report is an indicattion of ws-10 engine familay in mass production. Interestingly, the title of China Central TV report is

动力革命4：解密我四代机心脏-大推力加力式涡扇发动机
(Power Revolution: Revelation of Chinese 4th generation jetfighter heart-- powerful turbofan AB jet engine)

It clearly says the WS10 family is the engine type of Chinese 4th (Western 5th) jet fighter. Rationably, an unshrunk WS10 may be.
In this China Central TV report it also says FWS10a is "一发两机“， one engine for two airplanes. So the WS-10a is a redesigned, shrunk version that is going to be used in BOTH the J-11/J-10 aircraft, with subtypes of two gearbox locations.

As the J15 is between old J10/J11 and new 4G plane, it can only be logic if it also uses an engine from the WS10 family, possibly, a shrunk one.

maya said:

F stands for Fadongji,engine in Chinese Phonetic Alphabet.

...

FWS-10 is an official designation.
10A is designed to power J-10

Click to expand...

Thanks for that ... but what does "Fadongji" mean (sorry !!) ??

and hopefully I did understand it:


WS-10 = the original version, which was later redesigned/modified into ...
FWS-10 = the version for the J-11B
FWS-10A = the version for the J-10 (B ??)

Thanks in advance, Deino

Deino said:

Thanks for that ... but what does "Fadongji" mean (sorry !!) ??

and hopefully I did understand it:


WS-10 = the original version, which was later redesigned/modified into ...
FWS-10 = the version for the J-11B
FWS-10A = the version for the J-10 (B ??)

Thanks in advance, Deino

Click to expand...

Generally means "engine", but in this context it means "turbofan".

I think what they mean is WS-10=test version
FWS-10=WS-10A=Version for J-11 and J-10.

latenlazy said:

Generally means "engine", but in this context it means "turbofan".

I think what they mean is WS-10=test version
FWS-10=WS-10A=Version for J-11 and J-10.

Click to expand...

it is likely Ws-10 is refering to development model,while WS-10A refering to production model.
Will WS-10A will power J-15,or complete different variant of WS-10?

Deino said:

Thanks for that ... but what does "Fadongji" mean (sorry !!) ??

and hopefully I did understand it:


WS-10 = the original version, which was later redesigned/modified into ...
FWS-10 = the version for the J-11B
FWS-10A = the version for the J-10 (B ??)

Thanks in advance, Deino

Click to expand...

[ 发动机 fādòngjī ] letteraly means "the Machine(机) that SendsMotion(发动) "

WS stands for [ 涡扇 wōshàn ]
涡 is the contraction of [ 涡轮机 wōlúnjī ] meaning "turbine"
扇 is the contraction of [ 风扇 fēngshàn ] meaning "ventilator" or "fan"

Put all these things together and you've got [ 涡轮风扇发动机 ] more commonly known as [ 涡扇发动机 WōShànFādòngjī WSF] alias Turbofan Engine.

I Think they put FWS instead of WSF just because it's more convenient when you classify different types of engines on an alphabetical table.

Fadonji basically means engine here.

3 level heirarchy typical of Chinese military designations:
First level is what kind of thing is it? An engine-- F
Second level is what kind of engine is it? A turbine-- W
Third level is what kind of turbine is it? A fan type -- S (versus jet type--P)

another example is ZTZ (armored vehicle, tank, main battle tank)

RedMercury said:

3 level heirarchy typical of Chinese military designations:
First level is what kind of thing is it? An engine-- F
Second level is what kind of engine is it? A turbine-- W
Third level is what kind of turbine is it? A fan type -- S (versus jet type--P)

another example is ZTZ (armored vehicle, tank, main battle tank)

Click to expand...

Cheers for that!

You have plucked a thorn out of my mind, as I've been confused by the ZTZ designation for ages

That also explains why no engine gets the first letter "F" unless they got deployed by PLAAF. WS10 might be a test engine before the end product FWS10/WS10A after all.

Thanks for all the exolanations ... but why the "F" now only with the WS-10 ??

Also the other "engines" are engines and the letter "F" could have been used in other types too like FWP-14 for the Kunlun or FWS-9 !

Deino

My guess is official designations versus manufacturer's own names, which may be used more commonly.