Any reason why they are going with the WS-10C instead of the WS-15? Is it performance related or they can produce enough?
J-20 5th Gen Fighter Thread VIII
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
WS-10 of different variants are probably pumped out in large numbers combined with logistics that are established and solid. Most airbase locations probably have WS-10 repairs tooling with J-10, J-11, J-16, soon J-15, J-20...using them.
I think its more a pragmatic choice until they can do the same with WS-15.
Performance wise, I dont think that J-20 with WS-10C is sluggish at all.
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That just seems like cope, truth is probably closer to WS-15 development ran into issues and is being further delayed for a unknown amount of time. PLAAF obviously wants WS-15 as hinted previously by people on Weibo and considering the alleged massive improvement I don't see why they would be so hesitant to switch if it is ready considering they had to retool the production and supply line for J-20A anyways.
It look like they dont want logistics hurdles, logistics take way more time than producing a batch of engines. Why jumping ship when it<s not operationaly ready ? Having J-20 with better engines that are not flying waiting for parts is way worse than having functionnal aircrafts with engines with a bit less performances.
Look at the US F-35, half of them are not flying mostly because of bad logistics, after about 20 years of production, mostly engine related. Buying F-15 that fly would be better than these. Logistics that make aircrafts fly are more important than performances in the real world.
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Retooling the production line is going to cause nearly if not more issues than simply making the plane and wait a bit for logistics to catch up. Considering WS-15 will have different intake characteristic and will likely require a redesign of the intakes. If the issue with WS-15 is something like the maintaince logistics isn't quite there yet they would've just went with WS-15 with J-20A instead of choosing to stopping production and redesign and tool everything once it becomes ready. Not to mention they made a whole new variant of WS-10 just as a stand in. It seems like a lot of effort if WS-15 is expected to be available very soon. IMO, I'm pretty pessimistic about WS-15.
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WS-10C2 has infusion of WS-15 technologies and it has tremendous improvements. WS-10x version is being installed tested in J-20/20A version to keep early J-20 versions relevant. In few years earlier J-20s ie 300 would get engines replaced with WS-10C2or3 to improve their speed/load/range. WS-15 is being tested evaluated and it's production would start in 2020 (Q2 may be). J-20A/S with WS-15 would trickle soon and would be have wrapped up in production numbers in 6 months. That seems the reason of prioritising the WS-10C2-3 engine into J-20 right now. Awaite for MLUG for first 300 J-20s. It would clarify the scenario. WS-10C2-3 also reduces fuel consumption AW thrust enhancements.
Interesting. What sources support this support this assertion? I can't even tell from what I've read so far whether WS-10c2 is the official term for the latest J-20 engine; it just seems to be what everyone's calling the one with the jagged nozzles. Would love to know more about this engine and the performance differences between that and the older WS-10C engine, which is already no slouch, being roughly equivalent in power to the GE F110.
The thing is that they are not putting WS-10C2s into J-20s but J-20As which were rumored to come with WS-15. If it is as you say that WS-10C2 is designed for legacy J-20s and that the legacy J-20s are not compatible with WS-15, it likely means J-20A is also not compatible with WS-15 and will require redesign to fit it.