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5 August 2012 v.iFeng.com | PLA Air Force News

The PLA Air Force this week begins flight trials of their newest, domestically produced high performance
jet engines mounted on the second prototype (F-2002) of their fifth generation stealth fighter the J-20,
Mighty Dragon.

In the past, China's inability to domestically mass-produce modern high-performance jet engines has been a
persistent Achilles heel of the Chinese military aerospace sector.

Watch Flight Trial Video:- http://youtu.be/01FjYod3EWo



Russia has historically supplied the high performance military jet engines that power most of China's modern
military aircraft. However, China's defense industry is working hard to become capable of mass producing
Chinese-made military jet engines in order to end dependence on Russia, give China maximum strategic
flexibility, and begin to compete with Russian-made combat aircraft in export markets.

The new J-20 strike fighter program especially needs domestic engine development and production
breakthroughs because Russia appears reluctant to sell the high-powered engines that could enable the J-20
to supercruise (sustain supersonic flight without using inefficient afterburners) and thereby match the
performance of the world's most modern fighters such as the Lockheed Martin F-22 and Sukhoi T-50/PAK FA.

Such developments would help cement China as a formidable regional air power and deserve close attention
from policymakers.