A Chinese J-20 stealth fighter has reportedly made its maiden flight equipped with two new domestically developed WS-15 jet engines.
If the reports cited by The Drive are accurate, then this would mark a significant milestone in the ongoing advancement of the J-20 aircraft and the development of WS-15 turbofan engines – which could potentially improve the performance and capabilities of the aircraft. J-20.
Images and videos purporting to show the test flight of the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter with the new WS-15 jet engines have been making the rounds on social media. The test flight reportedly took place recently at the manufacturer’s main test airfield in the city of Chengdu. However, there is no official confirmation of the authenticity of the images.
According to The Drive, earlier versions of the J-20 used Russian-made AL-31 turbofans. An examination of the exhaust nozzles of the new J-20 aircraft can confirm the presence of WS-15 engines. The outlet points out that these nozzles usually present exclusive characteristics of certain engine models the outlet points out.
“What I find interesting is that when I saw that video, it was one of my first impressions, the sound is different from a WS-10C, more of a deep thud,” Andreas Rupprecht, an aviation expert, wrote on the Twitter Chinese military, after watching a clip.
Some images of the plane allegedly powered by WS-15 engines, which received special attention after its flight, add some weight to the claims. Additionally, a banner with the number 15, seen in one of the images, further suggests a possible association with the WS-15 engine.
The most powerful afterburner variants of the WS-10 engine currently known are estimated to have a maximum thrust of between 32,000 and 35,000 pounds. These WS-10 engine variants are renowned for their remarkable pushing capabilities. Additionally, certain iterations of the WS-10 engine incorporate thrust vectoring, improving the aircraft’s maneuverability. The continued development of advanced engine technologies plays a vital role in improving the performance and overall capabilities of fighter jets like the J-20.
Rumors of a WS-15-powered J-20 have been circulating for some time.
In March 2022, the South China Morning Post reported that a J-20 aircraft equipped with a WS-15 engine had carried out a test flight. However, it was believed that only one WS-15 engine had been installed during the initial testing phase. Subsequently, in December 2022, images appeared on the internet that appeared to show an upgraded variant of the J-20.
“Series production of the WS-10 and WS-15 [engines] has been achieved,” Zhang Yong, project manager at the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials, said at an event in March, according to a Janes report.
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