China buys 463 D30 engines for Y-20 and H-6K, WS-20 to come

Y-20 is using Russian D-30KP-2 turbofan engine

Recently, the Russian side disclosed the sale of D-30KP-2 turbofan engines to China. These engines are used for China’s homemade Y-20 large transport aircraft and H-6K series strategic bombers.

According to the information provided by the Russian side, Russia is selling a total of 463 engines to China from 2009 to 2020. The introduction of these engines indicates that domestically produced large Y-20 transport aircraft and H-6K series strategic bombers have entered their mass production stage.

H-6K bomber also uses D-30KP-2 engine

According to relevant information, D-30KP-2 is an improved version of Russian D-30KP turbofan engine. It mainly improves the performance of the engine under high temperature and plateau conditions, the take-off thrust is increased to 12.5 tons, and the overhaul time is increased to 2000 hours.

In Russia, D-30KP-2 engine is mainly used on IL-76TD/MD and other types of transport aircraft. And Chinese Air Force once introduced two models of IL-76TD/MD transport aircraft. In consideration of logistical support and other reasons, when China’s domestically produced Y-20 and H-6K were developed, considering that it took time for the domestic engine to mature, D-30KP-2 was also selected as their engine.

Russia’s D-30KP-2 turbofan engine which is a medium ducted engine

China imported the first batch of D-30KP-2 turbofan engines in 2009, the number of which was 55, and all were delivered before 2011.

It is generally believed that these engines may be used for bomber H-6K bombers, each bomber H-6K requires 2 Engines, plus spare engines, these engines can make about 24 H-6K bombers. In 2011, China purchased another 184 D-30KP-2 turbofan engines from Russia. These engines were delivered before 2015. Considering that Y-20 transporter just flew for the first time in 2013, these engines should also be used for H-6K bombers. And as Y-20 got 5 prototypes, and each Y-20 was equipped with 4 engines, plus a total of more than 25 engines. After deducting these engines, the remaining engines could be used to produce about 80 H-6K bombers, estimated by military analyst Xiao Feizhu.

In 2016, China continued to purchase additional D-30KP-2 turbofan engines, and purchased 170 engines for the third time. The delivery plan is: 44 engines to be delivered in 2017, 40 engines to be delivered in 2018, 48 engines to be delivered in 2019, and 38 engines to be delivered in 2020.

According to related reports, Y-20 was delivered to China’s military in 2016, so these engines may be used to produce Y-20, and 170 engines can be used for up to 40 Y-20 transport aircrafts. Immediately after that, China purchased another fourth batch of D-30KP-2 engines with a total of 54 engines, which will also be delivered by 2020. The delivery plan is 10 in 2017; 12 in 2018; 12 in 2019; and 20 in 2020. These engines can be used to make about 20 H-6K bombers.

This picture indicates that Y-20 has entered mass production stage

In summary, from 2009 to 2020, China ordered a total of 463 D-30KP-2 turbofan engines from Russia, which can provide power for about 40 Y-20 and 120 H-6K bombers. Of course, it is also possible that the same batch of engines purchased in 2016 will be used for both the Y-20 and H-6K, so the production numbers of the two aircrafts may also be adjusted.

Since Y-20 is the main transport aircraft of the Chinese Air Force, plus special aircraft such as aerial refueling, early warning aircraft based on Y-20, and electronic warfare, the equipment scale may reach “hundreds” and the number of engines required may reach thousands. Therefore, the outside world may be most concerned about when China’s domestic engines can replace Russia’s D-30KP-2 turbofan engine, and when the Y-20 and H-6K can be equipped with “Chinese heart”. From the perspective of the Russian side, the current contract ends in 2020, and the production of Y-20 and H-6K will obviously not end in 2020. Therefore, if the two parties have not signed a new contract, it could be speculated that China’s homemade engines will probably replace D-30KP-2 turbofan engine in 2021.

China’s WS-20 engine to enter service after 2020, which is better than D-30KP-2

Overseas sources believe that the relevant Chinese institutions have developed WS-18 engines for Y-20 and H-6K to replace D-30KP-2.

WS-18 engine is developed on the basis of D-30KP-2, and the main indicators are similar to the latter, and can be equipped in the latter’s engine compartment to achieve in-situ replacement. Since 2017, WS-18 has been tested on the domestic IL-76 aerial test platform. It is expected to pass the certification and mass production in 2021.

However, D-30KP-2 and WS-18 are both medium ducted turbofan engines. Compared with modern large ducted turbofan engines, their thrust and fuel consumption are still far behind. Relevant institutions in China have also developed WS-20 turbofan engines with higher bypass ratio. Its performance is similar to that of CFM56 engines, and it would improve performance of Y-20 greatly.

The outside world thinks that WS-20 engine will probably see its design finalized by 2020, in order to replace WS-18 and D-30KP-2 turbofan engines.