PLAAF reliance on Russian engines

Originally Posted by IDonT

Back in January, there was an embarrasing scene were the Russians would not allow the exportation of the JF-17 to Pakistan with their engines. As a result, there might be a delay of the sale of those aircraft so it can be refitted with Chinese models. Furthermore, the J-10 fighter also uses Russian engines.

This gives Russia a large leverage over the China's fighter export market and hinder export sales. Russia, of course, does not want competition on its aircraft sales.

well, according to an interview Kanwa had with PAC, RD-93 is apparently is not an issue at this point. Of course, with any other country, engine would be issue. I guess we will just need to wait and see the progress of WS-13A. WS-10A has been cleared for installation on J-10.

This is the worst thing in China's aviation industry. I think China should speed up its engine industry. I've heard on some TV show that the principle of an aircraft engine is actually quite simple but difficult to make, not many country in the world can make an aircraft engine.

I don't expect much problems with the WS-13. If they were able to clear the much more powerful WS-10A at 13,200kg, an 8600kg thrust engine should be a cinch.

Also successive variants of the Kunlun engine (WP-14) and have been going into the J-8IIs, the latest now rated at 8010kg. That puts the thrust to weight ratio of a J-8F right over 1.0 with full internal fuel and a quartet of AAMs.

J-11Bs with WS-10A engines appear to have begun serial production this year. That's another important morale milestone for the PRC aviation military industrial complex.

The last Russian engines for the J-10 were said to have been received around September of 2006. We have no information if there are new negotiations going on, whether China intended to procure another batch from Salut. This is March of 2007. The more and more time flies without a new contract, the less the likelihood of a followup order of Russian engines, and the more the likelihood, that the J-10 may move to WS-10A.