Chinese J-20A stealth fighters with new WS-15 engines will reach supersonic speeds significantly higher than mach 1. The Russian-made AL-31 turbofan powerplant will be abandoned. The development of the WS-15 engine reflects significant progress in China's aerospace engine industry
by Nicola and Gabriele Iuvinale
China's J-20 stealth fighter still uses the Russian-made AL-31 turbofan engine, which seriously affects its air maneuverability, particularly supersonic cruise.
On Sept. 9, the U.S. website “Dynamics” commented on a photo widely circulated on social media and claimed that high-definition photos of the J-20A, the latest improved model of the J-20 family, showed the jet equipped with the latest Chinese-made WS-15 engine.
The report believes that taking into account the powerful thrust of the WS-15 engine, the J-20A's aerial maneuverability could even surpass the U.S. Air Force's most powerful F-22 “Raptor” stealth fighter and the F-35.
The photo shows the J-20A prototype painted with yellow primer being taken off. The photo was taken from a rear angle and the tail nozzles of the two WS-15 engines can be clearly seen: they are obviously different from the previous WS-10B engines. According to reports, the J-20A is an improved model of the basic J-20 stealth fighter currently in service, including modified fuselage crest lines, redesigned nose, thicker wings and slightly raised cockpit. The increased space in the J-20A wing could be used to accommodate more avionics equipment and fuel. At the same time, the new engine's airflow requirements for the air intake changed, so the machine's DSI air intake was also optimized.
The U.S. Department of Defense also stated in its 2023 China Military Power Report that the J-20 upgrade project is expected to include achieving supersonic cruise capability by replacing the WS-15 engine and increasing bomb-carrying capacity.
It is known that development of the WS-15 engine began in the 1990s. According to rumors, the prototype engine can produce at least 16.3 tons of thrust with the afterburner on, and the ultimate goal is to achieve a thrust of 18.1 tons. In comparison, the maximum thrust of the WS-10 series engine with afterburner is 14.5-15.9 tons.
It also means that the J-20A replaced with two WS-15 engines has more power, adding at least 3.6 tons of thrust compared to the J-20 using WS-10. This performance improvement could mean that the J-20A has more thrust than the U.S. Air Force's more advanced F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, which is the only fifth-generation fighter currently in large numbers that can be compared to the J-20.
replacement of the WS-15 could make the J-20A an active fighter capable of supersonic cruising at a speed well above Mach 1. This is especially important for Chinese stealth fighters to perform programmed tasks such as taking positions.
The development of the WS-15 engine reflects significant progress in China's aerospace engine industry.
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