As some of You may know I’m currently working on an article regarding different Chinese fighter programmes … here especially on the Shenyang J-13 and the Chengdu J-10 !
One thing I want to point out especially as there has nothing written about so far in the West is the “competition” between Shenyang and Chengdu composed with the everywhere present problem during that time to choose and use a suitable engine.
I already had some discussion with Xinhui from the “China-Defense-Forum” regarding some points of this article. Finally he suggested discussing and analysing more deeply the following points:
He suggested to see more analysis in the “why it was terminated” paragraph at the end, those ideas need development and correlation with details such as when J-13 was cancelled vs. where J-10 program was at that time. Some more detailed analysis of why the Spey (WS-9) was OK for JH-7 but not for the J-13, and a comparison of the J-13 development timeline with acquisition of the J-11 (was the failure of J13 actually contributor to J11 purchase?).
So finally I would some up my questions to the following points: Why was the Shenyang J-13 project terminated ?
• Was it just the problem of not having the right engine ? Why have there been so many changes for the engine ? First the WS-9, then the indigenous WS-6, later the WS-15 (copy of the MiG-23’s R-25 engine), then again the WS-6 and then the end of that project. What was the reason for these changes and can anyone give some more information on the different types of engines and their “current” status during that time ? Why was the WS-9 finally good enough for the JH-7 and not suitable for the J-13 ?? Why didn‘t Shenyang went the same way as Chengdu and asked for the Russian AL-31 ???
• What part played the Chengdu J-10 in the final end of the J-13. Even as it was stared later it seems to have run in parallel for some time. Was it more advanced, more promising for the often changing PLAAF’s requirements ? Where there some technical problems in different areas to end the J-13 and had Shenyang already made contact with Sukhoi regarding a possible manufacturing licence ?
• Can anyone help me with a development timeline in comparison of the J-13, the J-10 and the final J-11 purchase ? Was the failure of the J-13 actually a contributor to the J-11 purchase ?
I think this is all for the moment and every comment are very welcome regarding the discussion of these three important Chinese fighter projects.
Thanks in advance, Deino 🙂
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August 11, 2005 at 12:42 pm