Supply chain issues impede mass production of new Chinese engine

MELBOURNE, Australia — China has completed the development of its next generation of indigenous military aircraft engines and will start mass production once supply chain issues with advanced alloys are resolved, according to a senior official from a local aerospace materials research facility.

Speaking at an aviation investment summit in Tianjin, China, on March 17, Zhang Yong, a project leader at the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials, told the audience that developmental bottlenecks for the WS-19 and WS-20 turbofans as well as an unidentified next-generation engine have been surmounted.

However, he added, material supply chain issues for the manufacture and delivery of the advanced alloys that will be used in the engines’ production still need to be ironed out. The official did not specify the supply chain problems.

The WS-19 afterburning turbofan is under development to power the Shenyang J-35, a next-generation fighter jet meant to operate from aircraft carriers for China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy. The WS-20 is a high-bypass turbofan engine that will power the Xi’an Y-20 airlifters operated by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.

The Y-20 is currently powered by the Russian D-30KP low-bypass turbofan , which is also used by the Xi’an H-6J/K/N bombers of both armed services.

Zhang also confirmed that the WS-15 afterburning turbofan is ready for mass production. The engine will be used for later variants of the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighters of the PLAAF.

The WS-15, rated at 181 kilonewtons, is expected to provide a supercruise capability for the J-20, enabling it to attain supersonic cruise speeds without the use of its afterburner, which reduces fuel consumption.

Zhang also said at his presentation that China managed to achieve “98% localization” for the WS-10C engine, which is powering the J-20s currently being delivered to the PLAAF. Other variants of the WS-10 equip China’s Chengdu J-10 , Shenyang J-11B and J-16 fighter fleets.

He did not provide details on the remaining 2% input, although it’s likely related to components or materials China still sources from foreign providers.

Mike Yeo is the Asia correspondent for Defense News.

澳大利亚墨尔本——据当地一家航空航天材料研究机构的高级官员称，中国已完成下一代国产军用飞机发动机的研发，一旦先进合金的供应链问题得到解决，将开始批量生产。

3月17日，北京航空材料研究所项目负责人张勇在中国天津举行的航空投资峰会上向与会者表示，WS-19和WS-20涡扇发动机以及一种未指明的下一代发动机的研发瓶颈已经克服。

但他补充说，用于发动机生产的先进合金的制造和交付方面的材料供应链问题仍需解决。这位官员没有具体说明供应链问题是什么。

WS-19加力涡扇发动机正在研发中，将用于为中国人民解放军海军的下一代战斗机——歼-35（J-35）提供动力，该战斗机计划从航空母舰上起飞作战。WS-20是一款高涵道比涡扇发动机，将为中国人民解放军空军的西安运-20运输机提供动力。

Y-20 目前采用俄罗斯 D-30KP 低涵道比涡扇发动机，该发动机也用于两国军队的西安 H-6J/K/N 轰炸机。

张先生还证实，WS-15加力涡扇发动机已准备好量产。该发动机将用于中国人民解放军空军成都J-20隐形战斗机的后续改进型。

WS-15 推力为 181 千牛，预计将为歼-20 提供超音速巡航能力，使其无需使用加力燃烧室即可达到超音速巡航速度，从而降低燃料消耗。

张在演讲中还提到，中国已实现WS-10C发动机98%的国产化率，该发动机目前正用于交付给中国空军的歼-20战斗机。WS-10发动机的其他型号则装备于中国的成都歼-10、沈阳歼-11B和歼-16战斗机机队。

他没有提供剩余 2% 投入的细节，尽管这可能与中国仍然从外国供应商采购的零部件或材料有关。

Mike Yeo 是《防务新闻》的亚洲通讯员。