China Develops New Engine for Carrier-based Stealth Fighter Jet

A team of 193 Chinese designers have developed and conducted prototype testing of a new turbofan engine meant for Carrier-based stealth fighters.

"The engine could be related to China's medium-sized twin-engine stealth aircraft FC-31, which could become China's next generation aircraft carrier-based fighter jet," Wei Dongxu, a military expert told Global Times.

The team from Gas Turbine Research Institute under the state-owned Aero Engine Corporation of China will receive a provincial award during China's Youth Day on May 4, according to a statement released by the government of Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on its WeChat account on Monday.

It took the development team one year to design the engine. Prototype of the engine underwent testing in six months. The engine is one of several major aero engine projects of the country, the statement said.

"Advanced turbofan engines are difficult to develop, especially the manufacturing of fan blades, which must be built to resist very high temperatures and pressure," Wei added.

However, according to Wei, the new engine must still undergo considerable amount of testing under different situations, before it is confirmed reliable and enters mass production.

This turbofan engine is likely to be used on China's stealth fighter jets in the future, Weihutang, a column affiliated with China Central Television, reported on Tuesday.