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Shenyang WS-10

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This article is about a modern Chinese jet engine. For the British WWII-era microwave relay system, see Wireless Set Number 10.

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

WS-10
Type Turbofan
National origin People's Republic of China
Manufacturer Shenyang Liming Aircraft Engine Company
Designer Shenyang Aeroengine Research Institute
First run 1990s
Major applications Chengdu J-10C
Shenyang J-11B
Shenyang J-15
Shenyang J-16
Chengdu J-20
Status In production[1]
Number built 300 as of May 2015[1]
Developed into Shenyang WS-20

Chinese media reported 266 engines were manufactured from 2010 to 2012 for the J-11 program.[2] Unofficial estimates placed production at more than 300 units by May 2015.[1]

Description

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The WS-10A is advertised as an engine with 120–140 kilonewtons (27,000–31,000 lbf) thrust.[1] It has full authority digital engine control (FADEC).[3]

Development

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The WS-10 is reverse engineered from the CFM56 with the experience gained from the Woshan WS-6 turbofan project, which was abandoned at the start of the 1980s.[4] The WS-10 project was reportedly started by Deng Xiaoping in 1986 to produce an engine comparable to the Saturn AL-31. The work was given to the Shenyang Aeroengine Research Institute (606 Institute) of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).[3] Initial production models suffered quality issues from the early direct use of AL-31 control systems. Furthermore, Salyut refused to sell the control system source code, forcing China to spend nearly 20 years developing its own code independently.[1] An early version of the FADEC flew on an J-8II in 2002.[1]

The WS-10A, targeted for 130 kilonewtons (29,000 lbf) of thrust,[3] was already in development in 2002.[5] In 2004, Russian sources familiar with project reported problems meeting the thrust target;[6] in 2005, they reported problems reducing the weight of the primary and secondary compressors, in addition to problems meeting thrust requirements.[7] Engine testing on the J-11 had already started by 2004,[6] and testing using one engine on the J-11 may have occurred as early as 2002.[5]

A full-scale WS-10A engine was first seen at the 2008 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.[3]

In 2009, Western media claim that the WS-10A approached the performance of the AL-31, but took much longer than the AL-31 to develop thrust.[8] Furthermore, the engine reportedly only generated 110–125 kilonewtons (25,000–28,000 lbf) of thrust.[3] In April 2009, Lin Zuoming, head of AVIC, reported that the engine's quality was unsatisfactory.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]

The WS-10A reportedly matured enough after 2009 to power the twin-engined J-11B Block 02 aircraft.[12] Production or performance issues may have prevented the WS-10A from powering the single-engined J-10B.[13] In 2018, Chinese state media reported an increase in engine lifespan from 800 to 1,500 hours due to the increased heat resistance of new third-generation single-crystal turbine blades.[14]

In March 2020, Chinese state media released a video showing a WS-10B-powered J-10C; aircraft markings suggest it was part of the fourth batch of J-10Cs for the PLAAF.[15]

The WS-10 has also powered various versions of the Chengdu J-20. The WS-10B reportedly powered low rate initial production aircraft in 2015,[16] and was used as an interim engine before the adoption of the AL-31.[17][18] In 2019, the Xian WS-15 – the J-20's intended engine – failed trials, leading to the decision to replace the AL-31 with the WS-10C as the interim engine; reportedly, the AL-31 was unacceptable because Russia refused to sell additional engines unless China also bought the Sukhoi Su-35 as well.[18] Testing was underway by November 2020.[19] In January 2022, it was reported that J-20's powered by the WS-10C would be upgraded with TVC.[20]

The original WS-10A has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 7.5, the improved WS-10B is rated approximately 9.0, while the WS-10C is capable of 9.5 or higher — adequate for the Chengdu J-20 to supercruise.[21]

In November 2022, a production Shenyang J-15 powered by the WS-10, possible the WS-10B, appeared in Chinese media.[22] It was the last indigenous Chinese combat aircraft to replace the AL-31;[23] possibly due to navalisation.[24] According to Chinese observers, compared to the AL-31 the WS-10 had superior safety, reliability, and service life, aspects which are magnified by the constraints of carrier aviation.[25] The replacement reflected continuing improvements in China's aviation engine industry.[26]

WS-20 (WS-188)

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Main article: Shenyang WS-20

The Shenyang WS-20 (WS-188) is a high-bypass engine,[13] reportedly producing 13.8 tons of thrust.[27] It is believed to be based on the core of the WS-10A.[3][28]

The Shenyang WS-20 is believed to be intended for the Y-20 strategic airlifter.[27]

Thrust vectoring

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A testbed J-10B powered by a WS-10 with thrust vectoring (TVC) – called "WS-10B-3" by Jamie Hunter – was demonstrated at the 2018 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.[29] The TVC nozzle uses actuator-assisted moving petals, similar in concept to General Electric's axisymmetric vectoring exhaust nozzle (AVEN) and Pratt & Whitney's pitch-yaw balance beam nozzle (PYBBN).[30]

Variants

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  • WS-10 – base variant
  • WS-10A – improved variant with FADEC;[3] advertised to have 120–140 kilonewtons (27,000–31,000 lbf) thrust.[1]
  • WS-10B – improved variant with greater reliability and thrust; based on the WS-10A,[31] with thrust reported as 135 kilonewtons (30,000 lbf) by Janes in 2020[22] and 144 kilonewtons (32,000 lbf) by Chinese media.[32][33][better source needed]
  • WS-10H – Naval variant equipped on two Shenyang J-15 prototypes. Limited to testing.[22]
  • WS-10B-3 – TVC variant[29]
  • WS-10C – "Updated"[19] variant with stealthier serrated exhaust feathers and improved thrust of 142 kilonewtons (32,000 lbf).[34]
  • WS-10G – thrust vectoring variant[35] generating 152–155 kilonewtons (34,000–35,000 lbf) of thrust during testing;[3] intended for the Chengdu J-20[35]
  • WS-20 – high-bypass derivative for the Y-20 transport; 138 kilonewtons (31,000 lbf) of thrust[27]
  • QD70 – 7MW class gas turbine engine developed from WS-10 for industrial & naval applications[36]

Applications

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J-16 with WS-10 engines taking off
WS-10
WS-10A
WS-10B
WS-10B-3
  • Chengdu J-10B (demonstrator)[29]
  • Chengdu J-20B (prototype)[29]
WS-10C

Specifications (WS-10)

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Data from Janes[45]

General characteristics

  • Type: Afterburning turbofan
  • Length:
  • Diameter:
  • Dry weight: 1,795 kg (3,957 lb)

Components

Performance

See also

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Related development

Comparable engines

Related lists

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shenyang WS-10.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fisher, Richard (27 May 2015). "ANALYSIS: Can China break the military aircraft engine bottleneck?". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  2. ^ "美称中国近三年内共生产约266台太行发动机". mil.news.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). 20 December 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Fisher, Richard Jr. (30 December 2009). "October Surprises in Chinese Aerospace". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  4. ^ "LM WS10A Tai Hang (China), Aero-engines – Turbofan". janes.com. Jane's Information Group. 26 January 2010. Archived from the original on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  5. ^ a b Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (7 October 2003). "New Developments in Russia-China Military Relations: A Report on the August 19-23 2003 Moscow Aerospace Salon (MAKS)". United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Archived from the original on 12 January 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  6. ^ a b Fisher, Richard Jr. (13 December 2004). "Report on the 5th Airshow China: Zhuhai, PRC, November 1-7, 2004". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Archived from the original on 26 April 2005. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  7. ^ Fisher, Richard Jr. (12 September 2005). "Chinese Dimensions of the 2005 Moscow Aerospace Show". International Assessment and Strategy Center. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  8. ^ Saunders et al., p. 37
  9. ^ Saunders et al., p. 44
  10. ^ Pomfret, John (25 December 2010). "Military strength is eluding China". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  11. ^ Collins, Gabe; Erickson, Andrew (26 June 2011). "Jet Engine Development in China: Indigenous high-performance turbofans are a final step toward fully independent fighter production". China SignPost. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  12. ^ Rupprecht, Andreas (December 2011). "China's 'Flanker' gains momentum. Shenyang J-11 update". Combat Aircraft Monthly. Vol. 12, no. 12. pp. 40–42.
  13. ^ a b c Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (12 January 2015). "Images suggest J-10Bs close to entering Chinese service". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  14. ^ Chan, Minnie (7 September 2018). "Engine boost for China's J-15 fighter jets as Beijing tries to build up navy". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  15. ^ a b Ju, Juan (5 March 2020). "Images suggest China has begun fitting indigenous WS10 engine into J-10C fighters". Janes. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  16. ^ a b Kucinski, William (7 November 2018). "J-10B fighter aircraft debuts Chinese thrust vectoring technology". Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  17. ^ a b Singh Bisht, Inder (13 January 2021). "Chinese to Replace Russian J-20 Fighter Engine with Domestic Version". The Defense Post.
  18. ^ a b Chan, Minnie (8 January 2021). "China's next-gen J-20 stealth fighter jettisons Russian engine in favour of home-grown technology". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  19. ^ a b Waldron, Greg (17 December 2020). "Chinese airpower reaches for the big leagues in 2021". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  20. ^ Chan, Minnie (20 January 2022). "China to start upgrading J-20 fighter engines in bid to close gap with US F-22". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  21. ^ Johnson, Reuben (18 July 2023). "China's J-20 fighter seems to have a new homegrown engine, after years of struggle". Breaking Defense.
  22. ^ a b c Kadidal, Akhil; Narayanan, Prasobh (25 November 2022). "China's J-15 naval jet appears with indigenous WS-10 engines". Janes.
  23. ^ Yeo, Mike (28 November 2021). "Footage shows domestic engine on China's J-15 fighter jet". Defense News.
  24. ^ Newdick, Thomas (23 November 2022). "China's J-15 Naval Fighter Is Now Powered By Locally Made Engines". The Drive.
  25. ^ Wang, Amber (24 November 2022). "Chinese 'Flying Shark' J-15 naval fighter jets look set to ditch Russian engines". South China Morning Post.
  26. ^ Waldron, Greg. "Pentagon observes progress with Chinese fighter engines". Flight Global.
  27. ^ a b c Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (4 September 2014). "China's Y-20 'enters second phase of testing'". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  28. ^ Lin, Jeffrey; Singer, P.W. (20 February 2015). "China's most powerful aircraft engine ever takes to the sky: Presenting the WS-20". Popular Science. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  29. ^ a b c d e Hunter, Jamie (20 July 2020). "China's Enhanced J-20B Stealth Fighter May Arrive Soon, Here's What It Could Include". The Drive. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  30. ^ Tate, Andrew (5 January 2018). "Image suggests China may be testing thrust-vectoring engine on J-10 fighter". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 November 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  31. ^ Chan, Minnie (10 February 2018). "Why China's first stealth fighter was rushed into service with inferior engines". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  32. ^ 空军新型战机歼-10C战斗值班，深圳卫视咋报道 (Television production) (in Chinese). Shenzhen TV News. Event occurs at 3:38. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  33. ^ "假如歼-10，换装"涡扇-15"，会不会更厉害？". Sina News. 3 February 2023.
  34. ^ Rupprecht, Andreas; Giovanzanti, Alessandra (29 September 2021). "Airshow China 2021: Chinese air force displays J-20A powered by domestic engines". Janes.
  35. ^ a b Saunders et al., p. 45
  36. ^ "涡轴-16发动机与法国合作用于武直10，QD70燃气轮机技术优势明显". cn1n.com (in Chinese). 18 October 2017. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  37. ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (26 August 2014). "Chinese J-11BH 'aggressive' with USN P-8A, says DoD". Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  38. ^ "China's J-15 naval jet appears with indigenous WS-10 engines".
  39. ^ "China's J-10 comes of age with indigenous engine". flight global. 21 May 2021.
  40. ^ "China's J-10C Fighter jet with Domestic WS-10 Taihang Engine Enters Air Force Service". defenseworld. 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  41. ^ 黃東 (18 November 2022). "珠海航展逆市高飛 軍事肌肉秀展現信心 （黃東）" (in Traditional Chinese). 亞洲週刊. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  42. ^ Chan, Minnie (10 January 2021). "China wants to modify the engines on its J-20 stealth fighter to match the US's F-22". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  43. ^ Waldron, Greg (28 December 2020). "China's enigmatic J-20 powers up for its second decade". flightglobal.
  44. ^ Chan, Minnie (2 August 2020). "China's J-20 carrier-based jet fighter influenced by US – not Soviet – thinking, designer says". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  45. ^ "Chinese WS-15 engine prepared for mass production". Janes. 7 April 2024.
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