J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VIII

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Hows the WS15 coming along?

Heard so much about it last year I thought we'd be seeing widespread adoption in J20 by now. But seems to be a bi lt quiet recently

Nobody said that WS-15 will see widespread adoption in J-20 by now.

What's being said instead is that J-20As with WS-15 engines are expected to enter serial production this year (and there have been mentions that the first serial production J-20A units have already taken to the skies, at the very least).

 

[Tomboy]

What are the chances that WS-10C equipped J-20s are capable of supercruise? If not then it seems the first 400 or so J-20s built will be forever stuck with degraded combat capability as normal J-20s are said not to be capable of retrofitting WS-15s.

 

[qwerty3173]

What are the chances that WS-10C equipped J-20s are capable of supercruise? If not then it seems the first 400 or so J-20s built will be forever stuck with degraded combat capability as normal J-20s are said not to be capable of retrofitting WS-15s.

100% sure supercruise capable, air resistance calculations show that with a hefty margin of error. Even AL31F versions have some hope of supercruise.

 

[Alfa_Particle]

What are the chances that WS-10C equipped J-20s are capable of supercruise? If not then it seems the first 400 or so J-20s built will be forever stuck with degraded combat capability as normal J-20s are said not to be capable of retrofitting WS-15s.

The WS-10C is said to be extremely close (or at) to the initial design specifications for the WS-15.

Plus, the Eastern Theater did say it can "easily supercruise":

 

[36011]

WS-15?

 

[Alfa_Particle]

View attachment 153175
WS-15?

Exactly what I was wondering. The WS-10C's signature thick silver collar is missing, and the petals are clearly longer.



And whatever those are hanging from the pylons are certainly interesting (if they themselves are not pylons).

 

[Tomboy]

And whatever those are hanging from the pylons are certainly interesting (if they themselves are not pylons).

They just look like pylons to me, far too thin

 

[MiraiAAA]

View attachment 153175
WS-15?

It may also be an improved version of the WS-10 known as the WS-10C2, which was found on prototypes such as No.2051. Its nozzle appearance is similar to that of the WS-15, but it is shorter in length.

 

[Alfa_Particle]

May be a brain fart moment but I don't recall ever seeing 2051's nozzles. The closest thing IIRC is the J-20S with strange nozzles that was flying with the J-36 at 26/12.

 

[Alfa_Particle]

View attachment 153175
WS-15?

I think I'm leaning to WS-15s.