(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) China was reportedly forced to develop its own technology after it failed to secure an extra 48 117S engines from Russia, which could have been used for its latest J-20 jets.


China is set to launch its new J-11D fighter after it failed to secure engines from Russia on time, military analysts said, according to South China Morning Post.



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China was reportedly forced to develop its own technology after it failed to secure an extra 48 117S engines from Russia, which could have been used for its latest J-20 jets.



Some improvements made on the J-11D aircrafts include upgrade of turbofan technology and radar systems; addition of an antenna that could be controlled through a computer and could point to various directions without moving; and use of composites and stealth coatings in the fuselage to lighten weight, the Korea Times noted.



During its maiden flight, the J-11D was also noted being powered by a WS-10 engine fan, which was originally made by a unit of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic), the parent company of SAC.



Avic said that it has manufactured over 400 WS-10 engines in 2015, based on its annual report in July, suggesting that China may no longer need Russia's engines.



Andrei Chang, the founder of Canada-based Kanwa Defence Review, said that China has boosted its strength and given priority in manufacturing its own aircraft engines, an area Beijing finds challenging.



In fact, Chang noted that Avic's Aeroengine Corporation of China has established 24 units and employed 10,000 individuals to create a centralized resource for engine production.



"The outside world had underestimated the pace of China's engine development. In fact, China has put quite a lot [of resources] into engine development over the past two or three years," Chang said.



Beijing has so far spent an estimated 150 billion yuan ($21.7 billion) to develop its own fighter engines in its 2010-2015 five-year plan.




TagsJ-11D fighter jet, J-20 stealth fighter jet, Russia SU-35, stealth fighter jets