China is now designing its own aircraft engines to replace foreign-made engines for its aircraft. (Photo : Reuters)
China is conducting final tests prior to the launching and use of WS-20, considered to be country's most powerful aircraft engine.
The WS-20 is considered to be more powerful and efficient than the Russian-made D-30KP. It has a power thrust of 14 tons, better the Russian engine which has only 10.5 tons. The powerful thrust of the turbofan engine is similar to the CFM-56 engines used in most Airbus and Boeing 737s.
Since 2014, tests on the WS-20 engine have been conducted on Il-76 test aircraft, and before the year ends, the aerial testing would have been finished.
China first conceived the development of new aircraft engines in a bid to replace foreign-made engines for its fighter planes, which rely on the D-30KP turbofan to provide power to bigger aircrafts like the Y-20 heavy transport plane and the H-6K bombers.
The design of the powerful aircraft engine core was said to be derived from the WS-10A turbo fan engine used in combat aircraft such as the Shenyang J-11B and the J-16 strike fighters.
With the use of the WS-20 on Y-20 heavy aircraft, the plane's payload can now be increased from the prototype's 50 tons to 66 tons. In addition to this, the new engine will definitely boost the performance of China's aircraft, making them more efficient and reliable.
Equipped with this powerful engine, Chinese aircraft such as Y-20 can transport heavy battle tanks or missile launchers in any place in the Asian continent.
The WS-20 can also be used in other aviation aircraft such as the C919 jetliners, which are used for airborne warning and anti-submarine campaigns.
