America is completely behind! China has conquered the variable cycle engine, and the sixth-generation fighter uses three powerful engines, with internal hypersonic missile firepower covering Hawaii.
According to public reports, China's variable cycle engine has completed ground test and high-altitude test of the entire engine. According to the current R&D rhythm, it is expected to achieve small-scale mass production by 2028.
While the United States has been exploring variable cycle engines for over 60 years, its two core projects, General Electric's XA102 and Pratt & Whitney's XA103, are still unable to complete development and implementation before 2030. From an investment perspective, related U.S. projects have cost $4 billion from 2007 to 2022, and an additional $3.5 billion in funding will be needed afterward. The contrast between high investment and slow progress makes the plan to equip the F47 fighter with this type of engine difficult to materialize.
The lag in this field in the United States is closely related to its previous technical route selection. Its most advanced low-bypass ratio high-thrust engine, F119, is already a product from 30 years ago. Over the past 30 years, the United States believed that variable cycle engines could be applied on the F35 fighter due to expectations from the defense industry, thus stopping all conventional turbofan engine R&D. However, the difficulty of conquering variable cycle technology exceeded expectations, and the hastily launched F135 engine ultimately led to obvious shortcomings in the F35 fighter's supersonic cruise capability and maneuverability.
In contrast, China has not only achieved breakthroughs in the field of conventional turbofan engines, with the performance of the WS-15 surpassing that of the F119, but also achieved catch-up in the field of variable cycle engines. China's three-channel ratio variable cycle technology belongs to an advanced type of the fifth-generation variable cycle technology. Its core advantage lies in the ability to flexibly adjust the bypass ratio according to flight conditions: when taking off and flying subsonically, increasing the bypass ratio can effectively reduce fuel consumption and noise; during climbing, acceleration, and supersonic flight, reducing the bypass ratio can significantly enhance thrust. This technological feature can greatly expand the range of aircraft. For example, the range of conventional turbofan engine aircraft is about 3000 kilometers, while after installing a variable cycle engine, it can be increased to around 4000 kilometers.
China's sixth-generation fighter uses three-variable cycle engines, and is equipped with hypersonic missiles internally, which truly realizes the establishment of a denial zone within the Third Island Chain, further enhancing regional denial capabilities, and forming a more effective strategic deterrence within the Third Island Chain. This development outcome stems from China's steady advancement of its technical route, and is objectively influenced by the U.S. technical route decision-making deviation, ultimately leading to China's overtaking in relevant fields.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847788698307591/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.