Paris Air Show 2015: JF-17 fighter flying with indigenous Chinese turbofan
Chinese officials have confirmed that a new indigenous engine is being flight tested for JF-17
A senior Chinese aviation official has revealed that the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation FC-1/JF-17 fighter co-developed with Pakistan has been test-flown with a new Chinese medium-thrust turbofan engine.
Li Yuhai, an executive vice president with the Aviation Industries Corporation of China (AVIC), told
IHS Jane's at the Paris Airshow that a new Chinese turbofan for the J-17 has been "under testing," has completed "lab tests", and that "flight testing is in progress". He also said that the new engine would have a thrust slightly greater than the 8.7-ton thrust of the JF-17's current Klimov RD-93 turbofan.
At a joint Sino-Pakistani press conference on 15 June, Li also said progress was being made on the twin-seat version of the JF 17.
Pakistani sources at Paris confirmed that a JF-17 has been flying with the new Chinese turbofan, which could be revealed publicly "very soon". There is a suggestion the engine could be named 'WS-17' to complement the JF-17b, but officials did not provide any further performance indicators.
Paris Air Show 2015: JF-17 fighter flying with indigenous Chinese turbofan | IHS Jane's 360