Chinese Engine Development

Now that the WS-20 engine core, i.e. the same core as in the WS-10, is proven the engine should be available soon.
The question is if they are still interested or not given that they are currently producing the WS-18 in numbers and it's probably a lot cheaper.
When the engine for the C919 is available that will be competition for the WS-20 too. But AFAIK that project is more delayed than WS-20.

About the WS-15 we know that the project for the smaller similar generation engine, for the FC-31 derived fighter, has had success so I think it is a question of time since it will likely use similar technologies.

Orthan said:

I dont deny that people have contributed information about these programs in this thread, but in terms of timelines it seems that we are in the dark here. Even siegecrossbow appears to acknowledge this lack of information.

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You are only in the dark because you have not looked at the engine thread thoroughly. This is like saying someone who lives in a cave thinks the whole world is dark because he has never stepped out of the cave . Yes the information is not extremely plentiful or publicized but it is still there ... enough for you to at least piece together the developments going on. If you aren't willing to spend the time browsing through the hundreds of pages in this thread to know what developments are going on, then it is on you.

Appix said:

Any recent updates / information about the Xian WS-15 jet engine?

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I found a you-tube video in a western channel 2-3 days ago that headlined WS15 was successfully tested.
But then, no idea if there is any truth.

Nobonita Barua said:

I found a you-tube video in a western channel 2-3 days ago that headlined WS15 was successfully tested.
But then, no idea if there is any truth.

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Chinese forums and blogs have made it clear (with unproven claims) that WS-15 has long been completed and tested. It's just that after completion of finalised form, it still undergoes a lot of further testing before serial production begins. When WS-15 arrives on a J-20, that particular "final" form would have had over a year of stress testing and will be the WS-15 which would surely be followed by the WS-15A that takes lessons from some time of application. Exactly the same pattern and process as J-10 -> J-10A -> onwards and WS-10 -> WS-10A etc. Of course WS-10 original "final" version was deemed not good enough in mean time between overhaul and total life along with poor spool up time performance. All these were corrected by WS-10A version and further development included a mixture of longer service time, longer life, more thrust, TVC etc.

So WS-15 being tested successfully is pretty much a given if they want to meet 2025 service deadline. And yes, this is typical timeframes for high tech turbofan project cycles.

ougoah said:

Chinese forums and blogs have made it clear (with unproven claims) that WS-15 has long been completed and tested.

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Are the people who made those claims considered to be reliable?

I think there is a case of confirmation bias with the big shrimps. For every 055 or J-20 leak there is also confirmed news of JH-XX entering service or WS-20 ready. Yes, the big shrimps have more reliable info than normal forum goers, but their words are not the gospel. Keep in mind that engineering projects are prone to delays, some of which unforeseen. Even if the leaker’s info is right in March, it may not be correct by October or even May.

siegecrossbow said:

I think there is a case of confirmation bias with the big shrimps. For every 055 or J-20 leak there is also confirmed news of JH-XX entering service or WS-20 ready. Yes, the big shrimps have more reliable info than normal forum goers, but their words are not the gospel. Keep in mind that engineering projects are prone to delays, some of which unforeseen. Even if the leaker’s info is right in March, it may not be correct by October or even May.

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Sometimes the delays are a good thing (at least from a technical capability standpoint). For projects with long development timelines new component tech sometimes emerges and requirements can change as a result.

The WS-20 would be a viable replacement for the C919's engines in case the US hits China with sanctions.
It won't be particularly efficient but at least the aircraft would fly even if would have older generation performance.
Once new engines are developed they could re-engine the airplanes.

gelgoog said:

The WS-20 would be a viable replacement for the C919's engines in case the US hits China with sanctions.
It won't be particularly efficient but at least the aircraft would fly even if would have older generation performance.
Once new engines are developed they could re-engine the airplanes.

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Pardon to be less optimistic. If the US don'T deliver the engines, the C919 is dead since the WS-20 is NOT a viable replacement - it is in fact not even used in any military type, where fuel efficiency is less important.

Deino said:

Pardon to be less optimistic. If the US don'T deliver the engines, the C919 is dead since the WS-20 is NOT a viable replacement - it is in fact not even used in any military type, where fuel efficiency is less important.

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From what I understand if it gets completed it would have similar engine performance to the A320 CEO but not the A320 NEO yes.
So in that regard it would not be competitive. But the native engine option is expected to be available in 2030. That is problematic.

If the US slaps China with sanctions on any aircraft engines with some US content there go the P&W series and the CFM series engines.
There is precedent with what happened with Huawei. Plus if they claimed that Huawei is "connected to the Chinese military" just because the founder used to be in the PLA as a signals officer before retirement, what do you think they can do to a project from a state company like COMAC with ties to AVIC?