Kunlun engine to be revealed at Zhuhai air show

This and other goodies coming from the CMF. The bad news about the Zhuhai air show is that the Russian aerobatics are cancelled (the Knights in their Fulcrums) due to safety concerns after the Ukraine air show crash.

While J-10 introduction is anticipatory, there is a lot more mystery and speculation what the Kunlun engine is. One speculation is that it may be the WS-11, a small turbofan intended for the K-8 and LS-15 trainers. Another, and the most speculated part is that this may be the WS-10 engine intended for the J-10 and J-11 (Flankers), an engine of the 12,500kg or 13,200kg thrust class. Yet another speculation (and one I favor) is that this may be an RD-33 class turbofan (WS-12 or -14), around the 8,000kg thrust class likely to be used on the FC-1 (the “medium thrust” words in the original Kunlun engine article announcement made me think of such.)

Also from the CMF, here is a picture of the WP13B engine from the Zhuhai 2000 airshow, yet another engine from the prolific WP-13 family. This is an indigenous turbojet comparable and similar to the Tumansky R13/R25 family and is used on the J-7s and J-8IIs. The WP13B is more powerful than the WP14, at 8,000kg thrust vs 7,500kg thrust. If fitted on a J-7E, the J-7E has more than 1:1 TWR at a normal takeoff load of 7,500kg. On a J-8II, that pushes combined available thrust at 16,000kg for two engines (a lot stronger even than the J-10!)—the normal takeoff load of a J-8II is about 14,000kg.

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