PLA may equip J-20 with Russian AL-31M engine

China will likely receive advanced AL-31M turbofan engines from Russia this year,
reports the Canada-based Kanwa Defense Review,
 citing a source from the Moscow Machine-building Production Association —
a Russian engine manufacturer also known as Salyut or Salut.

Russian AL-31FN Engine

The source told Kanwa, a magazine published by military analyst Andrei Pinkov,
that Russia previously provided China with 100 AL-31FNs, the predecessor of the AL-31M, last year.
Those engines will be used by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation to produce more of China's J-10A fighters,
the source said.

China currently lacks the materials it needs to produce enough fourth-generation fighters such as J-10A and J-10B however,
and it is thus looking to purchase new engines from Russia as it is also unable to repair Russian-built engines, according to the report.

Even though China established a repair facility for the AL-31F engine from Ukraine,
the Kanwa Defense Review stated that the structure of the AL-31F is very different from AL-31FNs and
all Chinese fighters equipped with AL-31FN engines must be sent to Russia for repair.

China is now looking to equip its fighters including the J-10B and J-11B with domestic engines such as the WS-10A Taihang engine,
but the country still needs more advanced engines from Russia to use as a blueprint for the future.

As for the AL-31M, it is currently used by Russian fighters like
the Su-27SM and Su-34. Compared to the AL-31F, AL-31M's maximum continuous thrust can be increased from 12,500 kilograms to 13,500 kilograms.

Its maximum cruise thrust can also be enhanced from 7,770 kilograms to 8,250 kilograms,
while AL-41M turbofan engines would also help Chinese fighters to reduce their fuel consumption as well, Kanwa Defense Review said,
adding the life span of the AL-41M is estimated to be 4,000 hours.

If a deal were to go through, China would likely equip its J-20, the nation's first fifth generation stealth fighter,
with the AL-31M for a test flight. With a thrust vectoring nozzle, the AL-31M can also improve the maneuverability of the PLA Navy's J-15 carrier-based fighter.

However, the source said that China is unlikely to introduce AL-31M engines in huge numbers as it will use it to design a new domestic engine.


[WantChinaTimes.com]. 2014-01-12