Our Best Look Yet At China’s J-20A Fighter With WS-15 Engines  (2024)

We have just gotten our clearest view so far of a Chinese J-20A stealth fighter powered by the definitive WS-15 domestically produced engines. While the appearance of the photo at this point raises a number of questions, it’s meanwhile clear that the significant shortcoming of the J-20 — its powerplant — is well along its path to being addressed.

The photo in question began to circulate widely on social media over the weekend. It shows a J-20A prototype, serial number 2052, on the runway at an undisclosed location. It may well be the manufacturer Chengdu’s main test airfield, which is co-located with its production plant in its namesake city. The fighter is seen from the rear aspect, providing a detailed look at the nozzles for the twin WS-15 turbofans. The aircraft is wearing the characteristic yellow primer that is applied prior to the final paintwork being added.

The J-20A version is a refined single-seat version of the basic J-20, with changes that include a revised fuselage mold line, including a reprofiled nosecone, a deeper spine, and a slightly raised cockpit, as well as provision for WS-15 engines. The additional space in the spine is likely to accommodate additional avionics and/or fuel. The new engines meanwhile require modified engine intakes with a slightly smaller bump (DSI inlet design) at the leading edge, to optimize airflow.

https://www.twitter.com/ItsumiErika1500/status/1813228651758121201

Somewhat surprisingly, the photo actually appeared as early as mid-July, when it was posted to social media by an account with the handle @ItsumiErika1500. Considering the speed with which new developments in Chinese military aviation are picked up, it’s puzzling that this took so long to become more widely distributed.

TWZ also spoke to Andreas Rupprecht, a longtime Chinese military observer and contributor to this website, who noted that the photo may well date from well before mid-July.

Our Best Look Yet At China’s J-20A Fighter With WS-15 Engines (1)

According to Rupprecht, it’s now generally assumed that at least some J-20A prototypes have been transferred to the China Flight Test Establishment at Xi’an-Yanliang and others potentially to the Flight Test and Training Base at Cangzhou. Although not yet seen in imagery, it’s highly likely that these aircraft are already painted gray.

Bearing in mind that serial number 2052 was seen as long ago as December 2022 in the primer yellow colors, it seems unlikely that it would still not have received its definitive paint scheme by the summer of 2024.

Often it’s the case that higher-quality Chinese aviation photos are released several months or as long as a year after they were taken.

Regardless of when the photo was taken, it certainly provides the best — albeit not the first — look at the J-20A’s WS-15 turbofans, an engine that is expected to significantly reduce the gap between Chinese fighters and their latest Western equivalents.

As long ago as March 2022, reports said that a WS-15-powered J-20 had flown, although only one of these engines was understood to have been fitted, which is common for early testing.

In December 2022, images appeared online showing serial number 2051 — an example of the J-20A variant that was expected to get WS-15s if it hadn’t already.

As we reported at the time, a J-20A — serial number 2052 — was reportedly flying with WS-15 engines installed as of June 2023, when photos and videos reportedly from the test flight increasingly began to circulate on social media.

https://twitter.com/kt396/status/1674440606310100994

The first imagery of the J-20A under WS-15 power was of poor quality, with the exhaust nozzles obscured, making it hard to determine conclusively if the aircraft actually had the new engines, or if it retained the WS-10-series turbofans previously fitted.

Meanwhile, the original J-20 prototypes and initial production examples were powered by Russian-made AL-31 turbofans.

As for the WS-15, this is understood to stem from development begun in the 1990s, but few hard facts are known about it. So far, no photos or videos showing the engine, or even a full-scale mockup have appeared in public. However, it has been reported in the past that prototypes of the engine were capable of producing at least 36,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner, with the ultimate aim of achieving a thrust rating of 40,000 pounds.

https://www.twitter.com/HenriKenhmann/status/1674420777263992833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1674420777263992833%7Ctwgr%5E6470175a28af6095839104c80b5d85b622a7a54e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twz.com%2Fchinas-j-20-fighter-with-long-awaited-ws-15-engines-may-have-flown

This compares favorably with the most powerful versions of the WS-10, which are reportedly in the 32,000 to 35,000-pound maximum thrust class, with afterburning.

Interestingly, while variants of the WS-10 with thrust-vectoring nozzles have been developed, the WS-15, at least in its current form, features a standard nozzle.

Overall, it appears that the primary advantage the WS-15 is bringing to the J-20A is more power — at least 4,000 pounds more thrust than each of the WS-10s used in earlier examples of the fighter.

Our Best Look Yet At China’s J-20A Fighter With WS-15 Engines (2)

Potentially, this performance boost could mean the J-20A produces more thrust than the F-22 Raptor, the only comparable fifth-generation fighter currently in widespread frontline service today.

The F-22 is powered by that each produce around 35,000 pounds at full afterburner.

The F-22 is renowned for its speed, including its ability to ‘supercruise’ — meaning it can fly at supersonic speeds for sustained periods without the use of afterburners, and with a full load of internal weapons, as you can read more about here.

Our Best Look Yet At China’s J-20A Fighter With WS-15 Engines (3)

While questions may remain about the fuel efficiency and maintenance requirements of the WS-15, especially its time between overhauls, the key advantage it brings seems to be one of thrust, which may well propel the J-20A into the elite group of current fighters that can supercruise well above Mach 1. This would be especially important for the kinds of missions the J-20 is expected to execute, including conferring an ability to get places faster in a dash profile, as well as likely increase its ceiling.

In its 2023 China Military Power report, the Pentagon said it expected that upgrades for the J-20 would include a supercruise capability via WS-15 engines, as well as increased internal missile carriage.

The J-20 — specifically the J-20A — may represent the state of the art in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), but U.S. officials have otherwise moved to downplay the level of threat it presents.

“It’s not anything to lose a lot of sleep over,” U.S. Air ForceGen. Kenneth Wilsbach, head of Pacific Air Forces, the service’s top command in the Indo-Pacific region, told reporters in September 2022. “Certainly, we’re watching them closely and seeing how they develop and how they operate them.”

Our Best Look Yet At China’s J-20A Fighter With WS-15 Engines (4)

The addition of the definitive engines might see assessments of this kind recalibrated somewhat.

At the same time, re-engining the J-20 is not the only program underway to expand the aircraft’s capabilities.

The two-seat J-20B is also now being tested and TWZ has long posited that one of its roles will be as a drone controller. The addition of a back-seater would make the J-20 better suited to this task and would also carve out a unique niche for it among current fifth-generation fighter platforms.

Another J-20A, apparently also fitted with WS-15 engines:

https://www.twitter.com/RupprechtDeino/status/1833104934834774429

Perhaps just as important, for China, is the fact that the maturation of the WS-15 also reflects major advances in the country’s aero-engine industry. Developing modern high-performance jet engines had long been the Achilles’ heel of China’s aerospace output. Many key types had long relied on Russian-supplied engines, but this is now a thing of the past. All key frontline combat types are now powered by engines of domestic design and production.

Whether a deliberate move on the part of the Chinese or not, the WS-15-powered J-20A is very much out in the open. We should now expect to see the aircraft more regularly, especially as it continues to populate PLAAF units as part of the air arm’s impressive modernization drive.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

Our Best Look Yet At China’s J-20A Fighter With WS-15 Engines  (2024)

FAQs

How good is China's J-20 fighter jet? ›

The engine delivers unrivaled performance, enabling operations in the most advanced threat environments. It redefines what's possible for customers and their missions, according to Pratt & Whitney. "The J-20 is faster than the F-35 but the Lightning II has lower radar cross-section.

How do China's J-20 fighter jets compare to US F-35s? ›

The F-35 has greater overall stealth capabilities than the J-20 due to its smaller radar signature. The F-35 is combat-tested, while the J-20 remains an unproven commodity on the battlefield.

How powerful is the WS-15 engine? ›

Performance. Maximum thrust: 156 kN (35,070 lbf)

How many J-20 fighter planes are in China? ›

The Rise of the J-20: China's Stealth Powerhouse

The J-20 program has progressed at an impressive rate since its inception, resulting in the production of approximately 250 aircraft, with over 200 currently in active service.

Can the J-20 beat the F-22? ›

-While the J-20 edges out in some performance metrics, the F-22's proven reliability and advanced capabilities, along with U.S. air superiority strategies, suggest that China's fighter still falls short in dominating the skies.

Is the Sukhoi 57 better than the Chengdu J-20? ›

Despite debate regarding J-20's stealth capability, military analysts agree that the J-20's stealth design is superior to that of the Russian Su-57 and its stealth profile could be further enhanced as the program matures.

What is the Chinese equivalent of the F-16? ›

Egypt has decided to replace its aging fleet of U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcons with Chinese J-10C Vigorous Dragon fighters, underscoring a shift in its defense strategy.

Why is no one buying Chinese fighter jets? ›

China's foreign policy and arms sales strategy have been a significant factor in countries backing out from acquiring Chinese fighters. Countries that have no direct conflict with China often abandon deals due to international pressures.

Why can't China make jet engines? ›

While China has certainly made improvements, it still lacks the manufacturing expertise and tacit knowledge required to build modern turbofan engines. In the past, China primarily turned to the United Kingdom and former Soviet Union for jet engines, as shown in Figure 3.

What is the best fighter jet engine ever made? ›

Delivering Superior Operational Value, Defined by Its:

The F135 is the most reliable fighter engine we've ever built, providing warfighters the assurance that it will be ready to meet mission demands. The F135 was designed for ease of maintenance and affordable sustainment.

Is China's stealthy J-20 superior to the F-35? ›

F-35 Has Better Stealth Attributes

The J-20 has forward canards that increase its radar visibility, and the F-35 is believed to be the stealthier airplane, so the J-20 may not be able to “see” the F-35 until the Lighting II has a missile lock.

How much does a J-20 fighter cost? ›

The jet costs between $100 million and $120 million a unit, according to The EurAsian Times. In the early 2000s, the preliminary cost of the jet was quoted to be 450 million to 500 million Chinese yuan, or about $60 million to $70 million, The Diplomat reported.

Did China deploy J-20 fighter jets near Indian border? ›

Synopsis. Satellite images reveal China's deployment of J-20 stealth fighters near the Indian border in Tibet. This strategic move places the advanced aircraft within proximity to India, raising regional tensions. India counters with its Rafale fighters and upgraded air defenses, including the S-400 system.

Is J-20 better than F16? ›

In beyond-visual range engagements, the J-20 is expected to outperform the F-16. The J-20's combination of stealth, radar capabilities, and long-range missiles could provide a significant advantage.

Which is better Rafale jet or Chengdu J-20? ›

Aerodynamic Abilities. In aerodynamic abilities, the maximum speed of the Rafale is 2,130 km/h with a service ceiling of 15,235 m and a range of 3,700 km. Whereas, the max speed of J-20 is 2,223 km/h with a service ceiling of 20,000 m where the range of J-20 is unknown.

Is the J-20 really a 5th gen fighter? ›

China has two stealth fighter aircraft, Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang FC-31, both classified as fifth-generation fighter by United States Department of Defense.

What is the combat range of the J-20? ›

Experts speculate that the J-20's internal fuel capacity, estimated at 11,000 kg, allows for missions deep into Indian territory without relying on external fuel tanks. This, coupled with a speculated combat range of 2,000 km, raises concerns for Indian defense strategists.

References

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