China's V/STOL studies, concepts & considerations

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Tyloe

Junior Member
I just hope this isn't the mark a decision of Shenyang or the PLAN requirements to cancel the J-31 program, if the lift fan project is indeed apart of a plan for an entire new fighter aircraft. There are no real benefits for a lift fan in a fighter unless it's designed for as an airwing of a LHD and the adversary has limited air to air capability. The were also unconfirmed reports that during the Falklands War RN Harriers rarely used their lift fans for VTO to get into the air during combat, as it would seriously compromise their endurance.
 
Ultra

Ultra

Junior Member
thunderchief said:
Looks like slightly changed drawing of F-35B . Anyway it is still on long rope, they would need first to develop engine, fan and all the other things necessary for VSTOL .
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That's just a fan rendering. Officially they never say anything about it looking like F-35B. All they say in the news is that they signed a contract to develop the jet engine for vertical take-off.
 
T

Tyloe

Junior Member
If this program is legitimate than it could only implicate three things.

1. A independent STOVL research program for potential aircraft designs studied for AVIC's design bureau.

2. A new single engine STOVL aircraft program is underway. If true then it's likely a fifth/new generation platform if 2015 marks the starting year to develop its related components as it would be in the 2020s or at least a decade and a half, by the time a new aircraft is introduced. It probably has a dedicated role if the J-20 or J-31 programs are not cancelled.
or
3. Testing it's application on future military UAVs or transport fixed wing aircraft. (Likely a world's first since STOVL lift fans has been only exclusive to jet aircraft designs till now).
 
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Ultra

Ultra

Junior Member
schenkus said:
I'm actually very surprised that China seems ready to spend the money necessary to develop the technology for a VSTOL fighter.

I guess this will cost many billions and I don't see how the technology can be used in other aerospace projects (contrary to say general turbofan or turboshaft research).

In order for this investment to be worth it, they would need to build quite a big number of VSTOL fighters and I simply can't see the need for a lot of them. China doesn't have any ships to use them on and if they want a lot of small aircraft carriers it might be easier to build something like
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carriers.

When Britain built the harrier they expected to build a lot of them so they could use them as CAS in Europe in case the soviets destroyed all the runways.

I don't think the chinese leadership is paranoid enough to consider a similar scenario.
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They are a lot of islands in the "first island chain" that are too small to build runways. Perhaps PLA strategists think it would be a good idea to have VSTOL fighters which can land on them for resupply without having to build runways.
 
K

kickars

Junior Member
Deino said:
Ohh ... so it is not a contract for a fighter but only for the associated engine ??
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Ok, I will try my best to translate the news from AVIC's website which essentially contains two sentences. So, you and others who don't read Chinese can make your own mind up.

On 20/03 AVIC Chengdu Engine and AVIC Space Engine Research Institute signed contract of joint development of VSTOL project. The project of VSTOL propulsion is aimed at increasing military amphibious attack ability, and fill the gap of this type of military weapons, and research into the project.

Well, that's the best I can do.
 
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