Any idea of the engine development, from what I have read the WS-19 will not be available for export, and the export version will use the WS-21.
I have some questions, are the above two engines ready for serial production? Since the WS-21 lineage traces back to the Russian RD-33, does it still have the smoking issue? Also why does the WS-19 have a ban on export considering US, Russia see no problem in exporting their top of the line engines, what is China's concern?
For this question, I remember I posted the reason in PDF before. But I don't know how to search. Let me repeat it again.
In the 1990s, China purchased the technology transfer of RD-33. The project was handed over to Liyang Engine Company. The company's imitation RD-33 was renamed WS-13.
At first, China planned to use the WS-13 engine for the FC-1 (JF-17) fighter. But due to the technical conditions at the time, the performance of WS-13 was not good. Even the later upgraded version WS-13E still had many problems. Pakistan decided to abandon WS-13 and adopt the upgraded version of RD-33, RD-93 engine. Since PLAAF did not purchase FC-1 fighter, in fact, PLAAF did not have any fighter using WS-13 engine.
When SAC developed FC-31, it used WS-13 engine for testing (this was the only domestic medium-thrust turbofan engine in China at that time).
At the same time, the 624 Institute developed the WS-19 engine on the technical platform of WS-15. Since there are many similar state secrets on the technical platform of the WS-19 engine and the WS-15 engine, it cannot be exported.
FC-31 is a 5th-Gen fighter that AVIC is preparing to launch on the international market. However, WS-13 cannot meet its needs. Liyang Company itself is a production-oriented enterprise, and its R&D strength is not strong. It is difficult to independently develop an engine that meets the requirements of FC-31. That is, they do not have the ability to upgrade WS-13 to the level that meets the requirements of FC-31.
Therefore, after the main R&D work of WS-19 was completed, AECC transferred the chief designer and some R&D personnel of WS-19 to Liyang Company for support. They continued to use the technical principles of WS-13 (RD-33), but adopted a large number of new digital technologies and material technologies from WS-19 to make large-scale modifications to WS-13. This gave birth to WS-21. This is also the reason for re-activating the new code WS-21 instead of continuing to use WS-13.
WS-21 has good compatibility with the RD-33 series fighters that are widely popular around the world. At the same time, its maintenance system is basically compatible. International customers can easily transition to this engine. But if it is WS-19, customers must completely rebuild a new maintenance system. Moreover, the maintenance cost of WS-19 is very high.
Conclusion. WS-19 and WS-21 are from the same R&D team (624) and produced by the same company (Liyang Engine Company). According to internal information, the current actual test results are basically the same.
However, WS-19 has greater upgrade potential. Of course, it is more expensive.
Actual production situation:
The WS-21 has already started mass production. Its production line is still a traditional production line, and the annual output is not large. However, it is enough to supply the foreign trade market. ------Pakistan has purchased a WS-21 engine last year. At present, the PLA Navy's J-35 test version all uses WS-21 engines.
The large-scale production line of WS-19 is still under construction, and the construction of the production line is expected to be completed by the end of this year. At present, it can only rely on the experimental production line for small-scale production. ------The currently exposed J-35A uses the WS-19 engine.
There are a lot of words. I don't know if the translation software is correct.
I don't believe the J-35A's internal bays can fit the PL-17 missile, it's noticeably longer than the PL-15, at 6 meters. I think it's primary launch platform is the J-16, and the J-10C can probably be configured to carry it but China doesn't see the need.
@Michael Can confirm if this is true or not...
Unofficial answer: The J-35/J-20's internal bomb bay definitely cannot accommodate the PL-17 AAM.
Official answer: Currently, the PL-17 does not exist. This is the code given to this test AAM by Chinese military fans, not the official code. The official agency has not officially announced this AAM.
