Chinese Engine Development

Blitzo · Thursday at 6:40 AM

MeiouHades said:
Isn't that a bit underpowered for a supposedly heavy attack helicopter?

No

Z-20 is a 10 ton utility helicopter, like Blackhawk.
Z-21 is an equivalent weight attack helicopter, which for a 10 ton attack helicopter is a heavy attack helicopter like AH-64.

AH-64 and Blackhawk share the same T700 powerplant.
Z-20 and Z-21 share the same WZ-10 powerplant (not to mention other things like rotor, transmission, structural elements etc).

What makes you think a 10 ton class attack helicopter isn't a heavy attack helicopter?

ACuriousPLAFan · Sunday at 11:42 PM

There is a new turboshaft engine with the designation of WZ-20. The tender document is from AECC Zhuzhou.

Posted by SOYO on Weibo.

sunnymaxi · Monday at 5:58 AM

ACuriousPLAFan said:
There is a new turboshaft engine with the designation of WZ-20. The tender document is from AECC Zhuzhou.

Posted by SOYO on Weibo.

View attachment 163397

interesting.

AECC Zhuzhou is the entity who actually build that 30kg/s class gas generator and this generator can be used for the core engine of a 30-50-ton heavy-duty helicopter turboshaft engine.

so this WZ-20 most likely the engine for AHL heavy lifter helicopter.

gelgoog · Monday at 11:13 AM

A heavy helicopter engine would use an engine core of similar power as in a CF-34 engine for the C909 or a WS-21 engine for the J-35 I think.

Tomboy · Monday at 11:46 AM

gelgoog said:
Don't bother yourself too much with the Ultrafan. RR made the biggest prototype they could. There is no aircraft design in Europe big enough. This is a Boeing 777X class engine. And that aircraft already has an engine.

They will probably shrink the Ultrafan so it can fit an existing aircraft. Another 5 years to shrink the engine and more years to make the new aircraft model.

Ultrafan right now is the prototype, RR is planning two different production variants in the late 2020s to early 2030s. Ultrafan 30 and 80, 80 directly competes with CJ-2000A in the next gen 350kN class while 30 competes with CFM RISE and CJ-1000A for narrow body.

ACuriousPLAFan · Monday at 1:22 PM

gelgoog said:
A heavy helicopter engine would use an engine core of similar power as in a CF-34 engine for the C909 or a WS-21 engine for the J-35 I think.

Apparently the CJ-500 project has been archived/put on the back burner for the time being (if not being discarded).

Speaking of turboshaft engines - There is the WJ-10, which is the most powerful indigenous turboshaft engine in active service in China right now (~1600 to ~1800 kW).

In the meantime, there should be a 2000 kW-class turboshaft engine in the works right now, which should enable Z-8/18-sized helicopters to be powered with only 2x such engines instead of 3x weaker engines, alongside one such engine for a ~5-ton-class compound helicopter.

At the same time, we do know that the developmental work on a 5000 kW-class turboshaft engine is underway. Coupled with the prior news of both a 20-ton-class helicopter and a 30-ton-class helicopter in the works - The 20-ton-class helicopter could be powered by 2x of the 5000 kW-class engines, and the 30-ton-class helicopter could be powered by 3x of the same engines.

(There is also a claim/allegation of a 8000 kW-class turboshaft engine in the works (meaning that only 2x such engines are required for a 30-ton-class helicopter).)

In addition, the 5000 kW-class engines can certainly be further developed to power the Chinese counterpart to the V-22 Osprey.

sunnymaxi · Monday at 2:43 PM

ACuriousPLAFan said:
Apparently the CJ-500 project has been archived/put on the back burner for the time being (if not being discarded).

Speaking of turboshaft engines - There is the WJ-10, which is the most powerful indigenous turboshaft engine in active service in China right now (~1600 to ~1800 kW).

In the meantime, there should be a 2000 kW-class turboshaft engine in the works right now, which should enable Z-8/18-sized helicopters to be powered with only 2x such engines instead of 3x weaker engines, alongside one such engine for a ~5-ton-class compound helicopter.

At the same time, we do know that the developmental work on a 5000 kW-class turboshaft engine is underway. Coupled with the prior news of both a 20-ton-class helicopter and a 30-ton-class helicopter in the works - The 20-ton-class helicopter could be powered by 2x of the 5000 kW-class engines, and the 30-ton-class helicopter could be powered by 3x of the same engines.

(There is also a claim/allegation of a 8000 kW-class turboshaft engine in the works (meaning that only 2x such engines are required for a 30-ton-class helicopter).)

In addition, the 5000 kW-class engines can certainly be further developed to power the Chinese counterpart to the V-22 Osprey.

AECC Zhuzhou aka institute 608 is the part of AECC South which located in Hunan province.. in recent years they emerged as a prominent player in turboshaft/turboprop engines and transmission system. AES-100 and AEP-500 are their work.

AECC Zhuzhou also build propfan prototype and did ground test.

they did showcase that 30kg/s class gas generator as a core machine at 2022 airshow. and specifically mentioned heavy duty helicopters. The "30kg/s" gas generator exhibited this time adopts an advanced double-rotor structure and is used for the core engine of a 30-50-ton heavy-duty helicopter turboshaft engine. It can also be derived and developed into advanced turboprops and propeller fans.

i believe, this 30kg/s core gas generator is the core machine of upcoming heavy duty turboshaft engine. with this power output they can easily build 8000KW turboshaft Engine..

ACuriousPLAFan said:
In addition, the 5000 kW-class engines can certainly be further developed to power the Chinese counterpart to the V-22 Osprey.

Rolls Royce T406 has maximum power output of 4,586KW..

gelgoog · 2025-10-28T02:03:23-0400

ACuriousPLAFan said:
there should be a 2000 kW-class turboshaft engine in the works right now, which should enable Z-8/18-sized helicopters to be powered with only 2x such engines instead of 3x weaker engines

That is non-trivial to design. Making an helicopter gearbox is really hard. Switching to more or less engines or substantially changing power implies designing another gearbox.

Chinese Engine Development

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