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Chinese Military Engines Narrow Gap with Western Counterparts

Chinese Military Engines Narrow Gap with Western Counterparts
China’s domestically produced military jet engines have made significant strides in recent years, steadily closing the performance gap with Western powerplants. Despite these advances, Chinese engines still lag behind in critical areas, a development that has raised concerns among Western defense officials and spurred calls for accelerated innovation to preserve technological superiority.
Progress and Challenges in Chinese Engine Development
Steve Russell, general manager of GE Aerospace’s advanced projects unit Edison Works, which focuses on next-generation propulsion technologies, acknowledged that Chinese turbofan engines are “catching up” to those developed by leading Western manufacturers. Edison Works is engaged in pioneering projects such as adaptive cycle turbofans for sixth-generation fighters and compact engines for cruise missiles and uncrewed aircraft—initiatives designed to maintain U.S. military dominance as China’s capabilities evolve.
Speaking at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies in Washington, DC, Russell noted that while Chinese engines have improved, they remain less capable and require more frequent maintenance than their American counterparts. He also highlighted ongoing efforts by China to acquire Western technology, stating, “They are catching up and we do know that they’re certainly trying to borrow our technology still, like they have in the past.”
China’s progress has been partly driven by decades of systematic industrial espionage targeting Western aerospace firms. Beijing has employed a combination of mandatory technology transfer agreements imposed on foreign companies operating in China and covert operations to steal proprietary data. GE Aerospace itself was a victim of such espionage; in 2022, a U.S. citizen was convicted of conspiring to steal GE turbine secrets for China, underscoring the persistent threat to Western intellectual property.
Indigenous Engine Programs and Strategic Implications
China now operates several indigenous military turbofans at varying levels of maturity. The Shenyang WS-10 engine is widely deployed, while the more powerful WS-15 powers the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter. The WS-20, China’s first high-bypass turbofan, has been installed on the Xian Y-20U tanker aircraft. Meanwhile, less mature designs such as the AVIC Guizhou WS-19 afterburner, intended for the Shenyang J-35 strike fighter, remain under development. In the interim, the J-35 employs the WS-21, an updated engine derived from earlier Chinese models.
Russell emphasized that China’s ability to develop and field a diverse range of engine types represents a marked departure from its previous dependence on Russian imports. “They’ve got a lot of people and a lot of smart engineers too,” he remarked, highlighting the scale and ambition of China’s propulsion industry.
Nevertheless, China continues to face significant challenges in achieving technological parity with Western counterparts. Geopolitical tensions, disruptions in global supply chains, and the inherent complexity of advanced engine manufacturing remain formidable obstacles. These factors have led to heightened scrutiny from Western defense contractors and intensified competition within the global aerospace sector. In response, Western firms are accelerating research and development efforts and forging strategic partnerships to protect their technological advantage.
As China’s military engine capabilities advance, the competition for propulsion supremacy is expected to intensify, carrying profound implications for global security and the future trajectory of aerospace innovation.

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