The Chinese military-industrial complex is developing import substitution in terms of equipping military equipment with units of its own production. This time, the PLA wants to abandon the Russian Saturn AL-31 engines, which were previously installed in Chinese Chengdu fighters, in favor of its own power plant WS-10B. The first Russian units will be replaced by Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon single-engine fighters.
The Bulgarian military-analytical portal BulgarianMilitary pays attention, what WS-10B, probably, will be better than its Russian competitor, as China is decommissioning the AL-31 long before its service life expires. To date, the turbojet aircraft engine AL-31F, developed by NPO Saturn, was considered one of the most popular Russian aircraft engines. In the Russian Aerospace Forces, they are equipped with Su-27 fighters, Su-30, Su-35 and Su-57, as well as the attack drone Sukhoi S-70 "Hunter-B".
Since WS-10Bs are starting to be installed on J-10s, twin-engine J-11B fighters will also receive a Chinese engine. Sources in China claim, what in january 2023 year will begin their installation on a modified multi-role fighter J-11B, which is a licensed version of the Soviet Su-27 fighter. Despite, that both aircraft were adopted by the PLA back in 2005 and 2008 respectively, they remain the main ones in the Chinese Air Force fleet.
The WS-10B engine has been developed and tested by Chinese military engineers for at least the past ten years.. An improved WS-10C power unit was created on its basis., which the, probably, will be installed in the fifth generation Chengdu J-20 fighters to replace the same Russian AL-31.
The gradual abandonment of Russian engines on the J-10 with the new Chinese power plant WS-10B, likely, will cover all active fighters. In total, China produced more than 540 J-10 fighters, 25 of which were sold to Pakistan.
BulgarianMilitary reports, what, despite the lack of information, coming from China, some sources claim, that the new WS-10B engine requires less maintenance than the Russian. It also provides the fighter with excellent performance and greater reliability., than its Russian competitor. The phasing out of the AL-31 on the J-10 will help standardize the J-10 fleet, J-11, newer J-16 and J-15 with new WS-10B engines.
According to some reports, China has started developing the WS-15 engine, which the, in its turn, will replace WS-10B on Chengdu J-10 fighters. In the future, this engine will also be used on J-20 stealth fighters.. is approved, what is the most powerful engine, ever developed in China. Author:Alexander Grigoriev Photos used:https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengdu_J-10
