So eventually we see the J11B powered only by Chinese made WS10A taking off. Possible in Xian Yanliang flight test center, noted the WZ10 aside

A showcase of China’s advance metallurgy in aviation application.

The 2-stage fan system designed for China’s next generation T/W 10 grade turbofan engine was in display at the last Zhuhai Airshow:

Translation from the page in Chinese:
2 stage high loaded fan system with a total pressure ratio of 4.27, enough for a T/W 10 grade Turbofan engine usually with 3 stage fan( Reduced 1 stage!). Blisk blades with carbon fiber reinforced plastics(CFRP) ring are used for making of the fan.

For comparison: WS-10a is with 3-stage fan, F110 with 3- stage Fan and AL31F even worse with 4 stages.

…

Perhaps China did learn a bit from the AL-31 but the core most definitely came from the CFM56 since the project started when the USSR was still an enemy.

No doubt there are some Russian technologies used in WS10A but these technologies are legally transferred from Russian side and with endorsement of Russians

1 vital difference between Sino Russian and Sino-US relation is in military field, Russia & China are in co-operation and US & China are in embargo state. The vital difference decides China dares to reverse engineering the hot-section of the CFM56 to become the hot section of the WS10 even as the US authority aware but China won’t make the WS10A just a copy of the Russian AL31F engine specially the Russians are quite aware of the development of WS10A, Here I quote Mr Richard Fisher ‘s report again (which I already posted in the 1st page of this thread), please pay attention to the highlighted:

Russian engine makers appear quite familiar with the degree of progress China is making in its WS-10A advanced turbofan program, which seeks to make an engine slightly more powerful than the Saturn/Alyuka AL-31 that powers the Su-27. One source noted that China is still facing problems reducing the weight of the WS-10A’s primary and secondary compressors. In 2004 a Russian source noted the WS-10A was not meeting thrust goals, but that the engine might still end up in production.

http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.78/pub_detail.asp#

Since Russians engine makers are aware the WS10A but yet them don’t claim the WS10A is a copy of AL31F. one may argued the copy is with the Russian’s endorsement but think again, Those Russian even don’t allow an AL31F assembling line being set up in China how come they even go further to allow their gem being copied? So the claim that WS10a is a copy of AL31 is totally groundless. But ridiculous, when US authority (represented by its military) believes the CFM56’s hot section being REed while Russians never claim the WS10A is a copy of their AL31F, only the most irrelevant group claimed such without showing anything solid.

Well, we can’t deny the news of further import of 150 units of AL31F arose in Russia( True or not) does give us a new dimension to think its impact on WS10A “ Taihang” ‘s service status.

However, I think even the news is totally true, as many posters here pointed out: PLAAF & PLAN got a large Su27/Su30/J11 fleet to maintain, at the number of 300+ and growing, Even the amount of 150 new units of AL31F won’t be the signal that WS10A can’t enter service side by side with those Russian made engines, no matter those AL31F s are for spare parts or new kits as SAC only stopped the contract for assembling further Su27 kits and no indication it will terminate the 200 units assembled Su27 overall.

But after all, the above is our speculations, and analysis of 3rd parties’ news. However, I have to say my thread here is mainly follow up of direct news concerning of WS10A directly form its designer and manufacturer in the open sources which are the China aviation GroupI’s official website and its official publishing: the China Aviation News.

The volume of WS10A’s initial production is small, as the General Manager of AVIN1 indicated this when he inspected the institute in charge of WS10a’s controlling system. The news can find in the AVIC1’s website dated on 1/Nov/05.

He then said (Translated from the report’s paragraph 2) :

http://www.avic1.com.cn/Chinese/xwzx/detail/20051101_8.htm

” An Engine ( Apparently refer to WS10A) will enter small batch production in 2006.”

If the WS10A’s initial production just after design certification is small and SAC’s capacity is relatively large,IMO, some addition Russian engines to make more 3rd gen heavy fighters, say more Su27 assembled Kits( but with greater Chinese content) in addition to the J11B with WS10A are totally unsurprised.

Well, the international trading of AVIC manufactured aviation products is carried out by AVIC’s im-ex arm —- the CATIC ( China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation )