China’s J-20 ‘Mighty Dragon’ fighters set to get purpose-built engines ‘within next two years’
- The fifth-generation jets were designed to compete with US F-22s but have been using stopgap engines that limited their speed and combat capabilities
- China has spent two decades trying to master the technology behind the WS-15 engine, which a military source says is now almost ready to enter service
The WS-15 engine has been specially designed for the J-20 and is designed to improve its manoeuvrability and combat capabilities.
“The development of WS-15 is nearly complete … or may be finished within one or two years,” said the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic.
The source added that the project had fallen behind schedule and had taken more than 10 years but the upgrade means “it will be on a par with the American Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor”.
On Monday, Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television broadcast an interview with Li Gang, the pilot who made the J-2o’s maiden flight, in which he said the new engines would maximise the fifth-generation fighter’s capabilities.
At the time of the plane’s debut in 2011 – which was timed to coincide with a visit to Beijing by then-US defence secretary Robert Gates – it was fitted with Russian Saturn Al-31 engines.