Shenyang WS-10

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WS-10
Type Turbofan
National origin People's Republic of China
Manufacturer Shenyang Liming Aircraft Engine Company
First run 1990s
Major applications Shenyang J-11B
Shenyang J-16
Status In production[1]
Number built 300+
Developed from CFM International CFM56/General Electric F101
Developed into WS-20

The Shenyang WS-10 (Chinese: 涡扇-10; pinyin: Wōshàn-10; literally: "turbofan-10"), codename Taihang, is a turbofan engine designed and built by the People's Republic of China.

The WS-10A reportedly powers the J-11B[2] and the J-16.[1] Unconfirmed reports claim the WS-10A powers some J-10Bs.[3] Unconfirmed reports also claim an improved WS-10A powers the J-11D.[4]

Chinese media claimed 266 engines were manufactured from 2010 to 2012 for the J-11 program.[5] Unofficial estimates placed production at more than 300 units by May 2015.[1]

Description

The WS-10A is advertised as 120–140 kilonewtons (27,000–31,000 lbf) thrust engine.[1] It has Full Authority Digital Engine Control.[6]

Development

The WS-10 was derived from the WS-6 turbofan, which was abandoned at the start of the 1980s.[7] The WS-10 project was reportedly started by Deng Xiaoping in 1986 to produce an engine comparable to the AL-31. The work was given to the Shenyang Aeroengine Research Institute (606 Institute) of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).[6] The WS-10 may have been based on the core of the CFM-56II (itself based on the General Electric F101); China purchased two CFM-56IIs in the 1980s.[8] China may have spent nearly 20 years developing source code, after being unable to purchase code from Salyut.[1]

The WS-10A, targeted for 130 kilonewtons (29,000 lbf) of thrust,[6] was already in development in 2002.[9] An early version was flown on an J-8II in 2002.[1] In 2004, Russian sources familiar with project reported problems meeting the thrust target;[10] in 2005, they reported problems reducing the weight of the primary and secondary compressors, in addition to problems meeting thrust requirements.[11] Engine testing on the J-11 had already started by 2004,[10] and testing using one engine on the J-11 may have occurred as early as 2002.[9]

A full-scale WS-10A engine was first seen at the 2008 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.[6]

In 2009, Western media reported that the WS-10A approached the performance of the Saturn AL-31, but took much longer than the AL-31 to develop thrust.[12] Furthermore, reportedly the engine only generated 110–125 kilonewtons (25,000–28,000 lbf) of thrust.[6] In April 2009, Lin Zuoming, head of AVIC, reported that the engine's quality was unsatisfactory.[13] In 2010, it was reported that reliability was also poor; the WS-10A lasted only 30 hours, while the AL-31 needed refurbishing after 400 hours.[14] The quality problems encountered with the WS-10A reflected the state of the Chinese aerospace industry; AVIC initiated a general effort to improve quality control throughout its production chain in 2011.[15]

The WS-10A reportedly matured enough after 2009 to power the J-11B Block 02 aircraft.[16] A WS-10A-powered J-10B was seen in July 2011, but the engine did not power the initial J-10B production batch, possibly because of production or performance issues.[17]

Unconfirmed reports claimed the first flight of the J-11D was powered by a new WS-10 variant; the variant reportedly had improved reliability, with a thrust of more than 13t, and less than that of the AL-31F-M1. The flight was revealed in early May 2015.[1]

WS-20 (WS-188)

The WS-20 (WS-188)[18] is a high-bypass engine[17] reportedly producing 12 tons of thrust.[19] It is believed to be based on the core of the WS-10A.[6][20]

The WS-20 was first seen in January 2014 while being tested on an Il-76,[18] and is believed to be intended for the Y-20 strategic airlifter.[21]

Variants

  • WS-10
  • WS-10A – improved variant; advertised to have 120–140 kilonewtons (27,000–31,000 lbf) of thrust[1]
  • WS-10Gthust vectoring variant for the J-20 fighter;[22] 152–155 kilonewtons (34,000–35,000 lbf) of thrust[6]
  • WS-20 – high-bypass derivative for the Y-20 transport; 138 kilonewtons (31,000 lbf) of thrust[21]

Specifications (WS-10A)

General characteristics

  • Type: Afterburning turbofan
  • Length:
  • Diameter:
  • Dry weight:

Components

Performance

See also

Comparable engines
Related development
Related lists

References

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  12. Saunders et. al: p.37
  13. Saunders et. al: p.44
  14. Pomfret, John. "Military strength is eluding China." Washington Post, 25 December 2010.
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  19. CHINA AEROSPACE PROPULSION TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT
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  22. Saunders et. al: p.45
  23. 23.0 23.1 http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/this-is-the-real-face-of-taihang-ws-10-turbofan-engine.html
Bibliography
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