Chinese figher J-10 gets power boost

Flight International: Production examples of China’s J-10 fighter will be powered by an increased thrust version of the AL-31FN engine with a 29,800lb (132kN) output and thrust-vectoring control. Deliveries of the new powerplant could start later this year.

Yuri Eliseev, general director of Moscow-based engine builder MMPP Salyut, says the AL-31FN M1 has completed state acceptance flight tests and should receive official export approval later this year, clearing the way to begin deliveries to China.

Salyut is under contract to produce 100 M1-standard engines for Beijing under a deal worth $300 million, and has already delivered 60 27,600lb-rated AL-31FNs without thrust vectoring to power early examples of the J-10.

The new AL-31FN M1 features a larger low-pressure compressor, full-authority digital engine control and has a thrust-vectoring nozzle developed jointly by Salyut and Klimov. The powerplant has so far been qualified for a 750h interval before overhaul, with a goal of increasing this to 1,000h for China. The engine has a design life of 2,000h.

Salyut is, meanwhile, continuing work on M2 and M3 variants of the AL-31F, with benchtesting on both designs scheduled to start during 2006.

VLADIMIR KARNOZOV/MOSCOW