Oh this is ABYSMAL abysmal.
Chinese Trainer Aircraft (JL-8, JL-9, JL-10 (L-15), etc.)
- Thread starter tphuang
- Start date
Lucky UAE will introduce WS-15 into their service before PLAAF
How the authors of the CMPR 2024 envisioned the WS-15-equipped JL-10 to look like:
(Additional WS-15 engine placed underneath for size reference.)
Made by Big Bun CG on Weibo.
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plawolf
Lieutenant General
An L15 with an WS15 engine will have enough thrust to yeet itself into space.
Next year’s report: Chinese 6th gen prototype unmasked and nothing to be scared off! It’s just an L15 with WS15.
Semi-Lobster
Junior Member
Does this mean the WS17 Minshan program is effectively dead?
... where'd you get that notion from?
Semi-Lobster
Junior Member
Wasn't the WS-17 originally designed to replace the Ukrainian AI-222 for the JL-10? If there is talk about WS-15 being used for the JL-10 now, you have to wonder what's going on with the WS-17 "Minshan", it would certainly be strange to have both unless perhaps... they're for different roles perhaps?
Correct.
There's no talk, only intel screw-ups. I don't think you realise the magnitude of this screw-up made by DoD. Imagine the F404s in the T-50 trainer is rumoured to be replaced by F135s. That's how bad they've mistakened it.
Nobody knows, because nearly nobody cares with WS-15/19 being a thing. All the spotlight/resources went to the advanced engines (IIRC one of the WS-17 development leads got transferred to the WS-19 project), and understandably or perhaps even rightfully so. Why would you prioritise a relatively not-so-important engine with only limited applications when you've got bigger things on your plate?
You've got it. Refer to my T-50 and F135 analogy.
No. "WS-15 on JL-10" is just some ignoramous stuff coming out of those authors of CMPR 2024. There is absolutely neither plan nor possibility for WS-15 to be installed onboard any JL-10 without significant changes to the aircraft itself, such that Hongdu AC might as well design a brand new trainer aircraft from scratch.
Also, the WS-15 is sorely needed by new J-20As that will be rolling off the production line starting in 2025. There is also the consideration where some kind of WS-15-variant will be used onboard China's J-XD, H-20 and high-end loyal wingman UCAV too. Therefore, there will be no spare production capacity for the WS-15 to be used on anything else for the foreseeable period of time.
As for the WS-17 - Perhaps the engine just isn't that high on the PLAAF priority list compared to other, more critical engines (WS-15, WS-19, ACE WS-XX etc), given its relatively limited applications - And that perhaps Russia is still deemed capable of fulfilling China's orders for the Al-222-25 engines such that a domestic replacement isn't as urgently demanded.
However, given that Yankee in 2022 said that they “recently” restarted investigation into domestic engine development for JL-10, I believe we may actually see WS-17-equipped JL-10 in the future. Just don't expect it to happen anytime soon.
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I think everyone was surprised that you interpreted the "WS-15 for JL-10" thing as correct/serious.
It's a rather mind boggling mistake by the report writers, so it's doubly surprising that anyone would take it at face value.