Despite its growing aerospace industry, China is still a latecomer to jet engine development. China is not the only leader in aviation. The Chinese government has made it a priority to strengthen domestic jet engine production capabilities. This is a crucial component of China's aerospace industry as it aims to catch up to other industrialized countries. China has a large number of joint ventures (JVs) with foreign manufacturers. The use of computer simulations and process modeling is also being explored. These technologies have already been used by China's shipbuilding industry.
Chinese jet engine design and production involves many key areas such as component design and system design. It is not easy to identify the most critical components and features and their impact on overall engine performance. In general, high-performance turbofan engines are used to power military and commercial airliners. These engines typically require sophisticated modeling and optimization to achieve the desired performance.
China must have the right tools and systems in place to maximize engine efficiency and performance. There are numerous factors to consider, including the design of the engine, the material used to make the component, and the logistical planning involved in assembling and maintaining the engine. These are critical factors for high performance. This is a good indicator of engine design quality. The risk of stalling is also reduced if the engine is well-designed.
Although the aviation industry has many clever tricks, a Chinese engine capable of competing with foreign counterparts could be years away. China must ensure it has a robust cradle to grave support network in order to reach that goal. Aerospace Industry Corporation (AVIC), a Chinese government agency, has pledged to spend 10 billion RMB on jet engine research and development over the next five year. This will allow China to produce a variety high-performance turbofan engine, including the CJ1000A Changjiang. The engine has yet not been certified, so it is unknown when the first Chinese turbofan might be produced.
China has seen many notable achievements in recent years. China's first jet engine, WP-14 Kunlun was a significant achievement in the aerospace industry. However, it took twenty years to develop and was not a state-of-the-art engine. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China built the C919 passenger-jet. It has a new LEAP motor that may start powering it in 2025.
A new engine control unit is also available that can communicate with the cockpit. Chinese jet engine designers are using simulation technologies for reducing construction time and improving the design and performance. This will enable the country to learn from successful aerospace technologies used by its foreign counterparts.