Engineering:Xian WS-15

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Short description: Chinese fighter turbofan engine
WS-15
Type Turbofan
National origin People's Republic of China
Manufacturer Xi'an Aero-Engine Corporation
Designed by Shenyang Aeroengine Research Institute
First run 2006[1]
Major applications Chengdu J-20
Status In production

The WS-15 (Chinese: 涡扇-15; pinyin: Wōshàn-15), codename Emei, is a Chinese afterburning turbofan engine designed by the Shenyang Aeroengine Research Institute and manufactured by the Xi'an Aero-Engine Corporation.[1]

The WS-15 is intended to power and enable supercruising on the Chengdu J-20,[2] improve its maneuverability, and offers upgrade potentials for future weapon systems.[3]

Design and development

Development of the WS-15 afterburning turbofan engine began in the early 1990s.[1] In 2005, the engine performed successfully on the testbed. An image of the core appeared at 2006 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition. In 2009, a prototype achieved 160 kilonewtons (36,000 lbf) and a thrust-to-weight ratio of 9.[4] The thrust target was reported as 180 kilonewtons (40,000 lbf) in 2012.[5]

In March 2022, Chinese state media reported that the J-20 had performed trials with the engine and experienced significantly improved performance.[6]

In December 2022, Chinese military analysts indicated the WS-15 was undertaking the last stage of testing and development. Chinese sources suggested the engine completed its maiden flight earlier that year on an unknown airframe.[7] In late December 2022, a prototype of the new J-20 variant was observed at Chengdu Aerospace Corporation facilities. The new variant was painted in yellow premier and different from previous J-20 aircraft in airframe and was speculated to be used to test the WS-15 engine and thrust-vectoring.[8][9]

In March 2023, the executive of Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) announced the serial production of the WS-15 had started and China "[tackled] all technical bottlenecks" with the WS-15.[10][11] FlightGlobal speculated that small-scale production run and in-flight testing with the J-20 fighter was underway.[12]

Specifications

Data from School of Mechanical Engineering,Shandong University[13]

General characteristics

  • Type: Afterburning turbofan
  • Length: 5.05m
  • Diameter: 1.02m
  • Dry weight: 1701.5 kg

Components

  • Compressor: axial flow
  • Combustors: nickel alloy annular combustion chamber
  • Turbine: single-stage high pressure, single-stage low pressure

Performance

See also

Comparable engines

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fisher, Richard (27 May 2015). "ANALYSIS: Can China break the military aircraft engine bottleneck?". Flightglobal. http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-can-china-break-the-military-aircraft-engine-412424/. 
  2. ↑ Chan, Minnie (10 February 2018). "Why China's first stealth fighter was rushed into service with inferior engines". South China Morning Post. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2130718/why-chinas-first-stealth-fighter-was-rushed-service. 
  3. ↑ "China’s New WS-15 Jet Engine Finally Enters Serial Production: How Will it Supercharge J-20 Stealth Fighters?". 27 March 2023. https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ws15-j20-enter-serial-production. 
  4. ↑ Fisher, Richard, Jr. (30 December 2009). "October Surprises In Chinese Aerospace". International Assessment and Strategy Center. http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.219/pub_detail.asp. 
  5. ↑ China Aerospace Propulsion Technology Summit, Galleon (Shanghai) Consulting, 2012, p. 2, http://www.turbineengine.org/pdf/China%20Aerospace%20Propulsion%20Technology%20Summit.pdf, retrieved 28 May 2015 
  6. ↑ Chan, Minnie (15 March 2022). "China's J-20 stealth fighters are getting an engine upgrade, source says" (in en). https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3170433/chinas-advanced-j-20-stealth-fighters-are-getting-engine. 
  7. ↑ Chan, Minnie (19 December 2022). "Is China's W-15 engine to power J-20 stealth fighter jet nearing completion?". https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3203866/chinas-w-15-engine-power-j-20-stealth-fighter-jet-nearing-completion. 
  8. ↑ Newdick, Thomas (23 December 2022). "This Could Be Our First Glimpse Of China's Enhanced J-20 Stealth Fighter". https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/this-could-be-our-first-glimpse-of-chinas-enhanced-j-20-stealth-fighter. 
  9. ↑ Vinholes, Thiago (27 December 2022). "Alleged new variant of Chinese J-20 stealth fighter emerges". https://www.airdatanews.com/alleged-new-variant-of-chinese-j-20-stealth-fighter-emerges/. 
  10. ↑ Chen, Chuanren (27 March 2023). "China Seeks Superalloys, Supply Chain Boost For Military Engines". https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/supply-chain/china-seeks-superalloys-supply-chain-boost-military-engines. 
  11. ↑ Kadidal, Akhil; Narayanan, Prasobh (7 April 2023). "Chinese WS-15 engine prepared for mass production". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chinese-ws-15-engine-prepared-for-mass-production. 
  12. ↑ Waldron, Greg (27 March 2023). "Chinese executive hints at progress with J-20’s new WS-15 engine". https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/chinese-executive-hints-at-progress-with-j-20s-new-ws-15-engine/152627.article. 
  13. ↑ 郭培哲 (2016-12-03). "涡扇" (in zh-hans). 山东大学机械工程学院. https://www.mech.sdu.edu.cn/info/1193/124824.htm. Retrieved 2021-10-02. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "聚焦航发控制系统主业，增长提速巩固龙头地位" (in zh-hans). 中泰证券. 2021-10-08. p. 25. https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H3_AP202110101521719321_1.pdf?1633858667000.pdf. Retrieved 2021-12-01. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "600893.SH" (in zh-hans). 招商证券. 2017-06-07. p. 10. http://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H3_AP201706080634203430_01.pdf. Retrieved 2022-04-09. 
  16. ↑ "航发动力(600893)" (in zh-hans). 天风证劵. 2018-01-29. p. 18. https://pdf.dfcfw.com/pdf/H3_AP201801301083826272_1.pdf?1601214432000.pdf. Retrieved 2022-04-09. 

External links




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