My heart was clogged.
True. When I heard what Academician Chen Xiangbao said, confirming that the J-20 currently in service still uses a Russian-made engine, I felt as if I had always believed that my child got a perfect score in the exam, but the teacher said, oh, he is still using the pen of Lao Wang next door.
However, the feeling of depression and grievance has not passed yet. Then, he dropped two bombshells again. One was that domestic chips were about to be installed and tested, and the other was that the next generation engine had already started.
A few short words can make people feel emotional. They are led from the bottom of the valley to stay in mid-air, and then suddenly pushed forward with great force to the top of the clouds, as if they were riding a roller coaster.
Actually, if you think about it, this is not surprising at all.
Why do we have to use the "heart" of Russia?
This matter goes back more than thirty years. Song Wencong, the old man who built up a vast world for the J-10, what is he most afraid of in his life? It is not that there are huge difficulties at the technical level, nor is it that the amount of funds is extremely scarce, but that after the aircraft is successfully manufactured, there are no matching key core components.
Why did the J-9 end at that time? It was suppressed to the end. The turbofan-6 does not have the corresponding performance, and the imitation Spey also does not have the corresponding performance. Even if the design of the aircraft is exquisite, if it cannot fly, it is just a pile of useless scrap metal. So when it came to the J-10 stage, Lao Song became wiser and wiser, and made a firm determination: Even if he lowers his head, even if he asks others for help, he must first make the operating condition of the aircraft stable and appropriate.
We paid for Russia to specially modify the single-engine AL-31FN. This step felt awkward when we took it, but it was the right step.
The plane flew without a single prototype falling. It's money well spent.
If you walk on one leg, you will become lame sooner or later
What happens next? With the continuous orders from Russia, the Russian "Salute" factory is very prosperous. With the funds we provided, they developed the AL-31F-M1, M2, and M3, and then sold them to us.
In 2007, the M1 was finalized and its codename was AL-31F-42, which represents the two currently used in the J-20.
How should I express this? It has a bit of a bitter taste. We spend money to help others upgrade their technology, and then buy it back at a high price to use it. However, when you calm down and look at it, this is the price that latecomers have to pay. If we had not gone through this stage, we would not even be qualified to stand on the shoulders of giants.
At that time, "Taihang" was still a toddler. We can't wait.
Therefore, when the J-20 made its first flight, it used the heart of Russia. It's not that I don't want to change, but I don't dare to gamble. This is a project that has cost hundreds of billions of dollars and is highly anticipated by people across the country. There is no room for even the slightest error. The mature and reliable one, even if it is not the most advanced, is the only choice that can be made under the circumstances.
Turbofan-15, how long do we have to wait?
The most exciting thing about Academician Chen’s words is that the next generation engine has started.
There are speculations on the Internet that what will be installed on the J-20 for testing is a greatly improved version of the Taihang, or the legendary WS-15 "Emei"?
The author's intuition is the latter.
Why? The reason is that with the J-20's fuselage specifications and aerodynamic layout, it is not essentially meant to be equipped with a second-rate heart. Only the fourth-generation engine with a thrust-to-weight ratio of more than "10" can truly bring it to life and transform into the giant dragon soaring in the clouds.
But don't be happy too soon.
Let's take a look at how long it took for the "Taihang" to complete its journey. It was installed on the Su-27 for test flight in 2001, and it was already after 2012 that it was installed on the J-11B reliably.
ten years.
A whole decade.
So what exactly is the so-called development process? In fact, what happens is that it is designed, then built, then beaten, then improved, then built again, and then beaten again. The long-term test on the high-altitude platform is just the first step in a long march of thousands of miles. Installing it on the aircraft, repeatedly tossing it in various envelopes, and constantly rushing to the edge of the limit to conduct various tests, this is a truly extremely difficult process.
Even if the WS-15 is installed on the J-20 and flies today, based on a more optimistic estimate, the first mass-produced product will not be rolled off the production line until five years later, and then it will take another two or three years to be truly put into war use. From front to back, this is another decade-long process.
Walking on two legs is what makes us what we are today
But are we afraid?
Not afraid.
Turning your head to look at this road, you can see that your walking is extremely steady. One aspect is to purchase Russia's Russian aircraft, which will enable the military to have aircraft for use and make opponents worry; the other aspect is to improve the Taihang, explore its performance one by one, and hone its reliability one by one; and the other aspect is to study the turbofan-15, study new materials, create single-crystal blades, and study those things that are most "stuck".
Three fronts, moving forward together.
This is called strategic focus.
This is called holding your breath and quietly getting things done.
Currently, the J-20 has been protecting this sky with Russia's heart for several years. Until that day comes when the Chinese heart actually beats and beats, maybe we won’t be so excited that we can’t sleep and lie in bed like we are now.
Because by then, we all know in our hearts:
This is the day I've been waiting for.
It must have come on this day.
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