KJ-600 carrierborne AEWC thread

[Deino]

Another slightly clearer but deliberately blurred image of the KJ-600.

 

[AF-1]

Will serial units use AEP-500 or some other new gen Chinese engines instead of older engines from Y-9?

 

[sunnymaxi]

Will serial units use AEP-500 or some other new gen Chinese engines instead of older engines from Y-9?

prototypes use WJ-6C engines. upgraded variant of WJ-6 engine

serial production will be powered by AEP-500 engines.

 

[Deino]

prototypes use WJ-6C engines. upgraded variant of WJ-6 engine

serial production will be powered by AEP-500 engines.

HAs this been confirmed or is this still a speculation only?

 

[sunnymaxi]

HAs this been confirmed or is this still a speculation only?

strong speculation on Weibo.

and my source told me, WJ-6 is now pretty old engine. slow cruise speed and heavy oil consumption. PLAAF is not happy with this engine performance. and in near future all turboprop powered aircrafts in PLAAF will replace with brand new AEP-500 engines.

 

[broadsword]

and my source told me, WJ-6 is now pretty old engine. slow cruise speed and heavy oil consumption. PLAAF is not happy with this engine performance. so in near future all turboprop powered aircrafts in PLAAF will replace with brand new AEP-500 engines.

It took them decades to realize the need to replace with an efficient design. SMH.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

strong speculation on Weibo.

and my source told me, WJ-6 is now pretty old engine. slow cruise speed and heavy oil consumption. PLAAF is not happy with this engine performance. and in near future all turboprop powered aircrafts in PLAAF will replace with brand new AEP-500 engines.

Hopefully they will do the same with the Y-9 series, no?

 

[sunnymaxi]

It took them decades to realize the need to replace with an efficient design. SMH.

two reasons

China didn't have engine technology back then. so they stick with WJ-6.

PLAAF now expanding with rapid pace so they need better and efficient engines for long range missions. and in recent Airshows they showcase Y-9 export variant. without powerful engines it was not possible.

 

[Blitzo]

It took them decades to realize the need to replace with an efficient design. SMH.

No lol.

First off, the WJ-6 wasn't a fixed design. It has seen iterative improvements and variants.

Secondly, one doesn't just replace an engine at a whim. You need to have developed a suitable replacement engine to begin with.

 

[Quickie]

prototypes use WJ-6C engines. upgraded variant of WJ-6 engine

serial production will be powered by AEP-500 engines.

Just swap the WJ-6C engine with the AEP-500 during serial production without further testing?

If so, I suppose there are more than one KJ-600 prototypes that include testing the new engine as well.