The Shenyang WS-10 engine, code-named Taihang, has been deployed on a number of PLA warplanes, including the J-10, J-11, J-16 and J-20 fighter jets.
Its application on the J-15 means all locally made fourth-generation aircraft are now equipped with Chinese-made engines.
Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said the new engines performed better in terms of reliability and safety than the standard Russian ones.
“The biggest disadvantage of Russian engines is that their service life is relatively short, while Chinese engines have improved their overall performance, especially in terms of lifespan,” Song said.
This ensures sustainable combat capabilities for the J-15, he added.
Fu Qianshao, a retired PLA Air Force equipment specialist, also said the longer lifespan of the Taihang would save maintenance costs and ensure combat capability.
“The safety and reliability of the engine will directly affect operational capability, especially as the J-15 is a carrier-based jet. As hangar space on an aircraft carrier is limited, frequent engine replacement is very troublesome,” Fu explained.
It has taken years to finally replace the J-15 engines with the WS-10s, as a carrier-based operations require a much higher engine acceleration rate compared with land-based jets, Fu said.
All new J-15s are expected to be fitted with the WS-10 engines once further test flights are complete, he added.
The domestically developed J-15 is based on a prototype of the Russian Su-33. Since its introduction in 2013, the J-15 has been used on both the PLA Navy’s active aircraft carriers – the Liaoning and the Shandong.
China has also updated its J-15 fighters for catapult take-off, a photo posted by SAC on their social media account last year showed.
This would equip them for flight from China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which is equipped with an advanced electromagnetic catapult system.
In July, at least two models of the shipborne J-15D Roaring Shark – based on the J-15 Flying Shark and equipped with electronic countermeasure pods on their wings – were seen on the deck of the Shandong, as the aircraft carrier completed its first scheduled maintenance and refurbishment at the Dalian shipyard in northeastern China.
