Secret of Super Pilot： Domestic engines of our main battle aircraft account for 90%.
At the recent air force aviation opening activities, the "God of War" H -6K, which recently carried out several combat cruise missions in the South China Sea, met the public for the first time. Jinghua Times reporter Zhang Bin photo
As the "crown jewel" of modern industry, aero-engine has always been a "heart disease" of China aviation industry. With the establishment of China’s 12th military enterprise in Beijing, Chinese people have high hopes for this aero-engine enterprise, hoping that it can achieve the same achievements as "two bombs and one satellite". Yesterday, the four-day air force aviation opening activity came to an end. More than 20 military aircraft in the 34-type domestic weapons and equipment attracted national attention, which also brought people cold thinking: what is the current localization ratio of the air force of a big country with huge demand for aviation development industry and what level is it reaching? How far are we from the aviation power?
□ reveal the secret
The so-called localization is not completely independent research and development.
Guogui Wu, a 57-year-old special pilot of the Air Force, holds the rank of senior colonel. He used to be the captain of the Air Force Bayi Air Show Team and the deputy division commander of an Air Force Aviation Division, with 30 years of flying experience. As an old pilot with actual combat experience, and now a professor in the post-installation teaching and research department of National Defense University, he has unique insights in studying military high-tech, air force weapons and equipment, and equipment safety management.
At present, what kind of level is the localization ratio and performance of aero-engines in China? Recently, Guogui Wu said in an exclusive interview with the reporter of Beijing Times that China has established an independent aero-engine industrial system in the process of industrialization, and the performance of imitation engines reached a fairly high level in the 1960s and 1970s. Among the main combat aircraft, domestic engines have accounted for about 90%.
The so-called localization here is not the localization of completely independent research and development, but the process of introduction, imitation, improvement and innovation. Due to China’s weak industrial base, in order to meet the strong military demand for aero-engines, the Soviet Union’s aid and imported production methods were adopted. On the basis of the introduction and digestion of Soviet engine production technology, the model was improved, and the scale and serialization of domestic production were gradually realized, which basically met the needs of China’s air, land and sea aviation forces.
"Without the process of introduction, imitation and improvement in the past, it is impossible to establish a systematic industrial system of aero-engines, to provide continuous and reliable guarantee for the combat training of aviation units, and to cultivate a team of design, testing and production talents for exercise engines. This is the foundation for the innovative development of aero-engine groups today." Guogui Wu said.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the overall performance of aero-engines produced in China was not much different from the mainstream level in the world at that time. The fundamental difference was that the domestic engines were mainly imitations and modifications, and there was no engine that was completely independently developed and produced.
"Not only do we have no independent intellectual property rights, but we also have no core technology." Guogui Wu said, therefore, in the 1980s and 1990s, when the aviation technology of the United States, Europe and Russia developed rapidly, and the third generation fighters were generally equipped with a new generation of turbofan engines, China was still "playing around" in the improvement of turbojet engines, hesitating on the road of introducing imitation and independent innovation, and the gap between China and the world’s advanced level was not large. Not only does the new generation of fighters lack the drive of advanced engines, but the engines in service also have some quality and safety hazards, which are called "heart disease" by Chinese people.
Only a few third-generation aircraft of the main fighter are equipped with imported engines.
After 60 years of development, China has the production capacity of fighter, bomber, attack aircraft, transport aircraft, trainer and other aircraft. In line with this, a relatively complete engine development and production system has been established, which has the series development and production capacity of turboprop, turbojet, turbofan and turboshaft engines. Domestic engines are mainly assembled on fighter planes, fighter planes, bombers, fighter bombers and other main battle planes, and only a few third-generation fighters are equipped with imported engines.
For example, domestic fighters such as J -5, J -6, J -7 and J -8 are adapted to corresponding domestic engines such as turbojet -5, turbojet -6 and turbojet -7. With the improvement of stability, safety and reliability of Taihang engine, it has been widely installed on three generations of fighters, such as J -11, J -15 and J -16.
In terms of bombers, H -5 and H -6 realized the localization of engines. The turboprop engines used in Yun -7 and Yun -8 transport planes are all made in China.
With the maturity of integral technologies such as Zhi -9, Zhi -8 and Zhi -10, the serial development of turboshaft -8, turboshaft -6 and turboshaft -16 engines has been realized on the basis of introduction, which provides a reliable power source for the rapidly expanding domestic helicopter fleet in China.
At present, China’s aviation industry is in a stage from big to strong, from following up to catching up to developing on a par or even surpassing corners. Whether it is a new generation of military aircraft such as fighters, bombers, transport planes and drones, or large passenger planes and all kinds of general-purpose aircraft, there is an urgent need for strong and reliable driving of advanced engines. The sound and rapid development of aero-engines has become the proper meaning of the "Chinese Dream".
Guogui Wu said frankly that the country has clearly regarded the engine as a major scientific and technological project in the medium and long-term scientific and technological development plan, and has made up its mind to concentrate manpower, material resources and financial resources to independently research and develop a series of new engines. Domestic aero-engines have entered an unprecedented fast lane of development. In this context, the establishment of China Aviation Engine Group can be said to have a long way to go.
The military plays a traction and propulsion role in the field of aviation development
After the establishment of "Hangfa" Group, what breakthrough will the military make in the development of aero-engines? In the aviation opening activities of the Air Force, Senior Colonel Wang Zhonghua, director of the Comprehensive Planning Bureau of the Air Force Equipment Department, said that aero-engines are known as the "crown jewel" of modern industry, with the characteristics of high pressure, high temperature and high speed, and the production is extremely difficult, which is not an area that a novice country can intervene in. Aero-engine is very important to the air force, and aviation must be supported by aero-engine if it wants to fly high and sail far.
Over the years, aero-engines are developing in the direction of independent innovation and self-protection through independent research and development, and the development of aero-engines will be promoted from China manufacturing to China creation. The military plays a traction and propulsion role in the field of aero-engines. By putting forward reasonable tactical and technical requirements, strict organization and management, scientific verification and continuous use of troops, the development of engines is promoted.
"The Air Force pays close attention to aero-engines and will give its utmost efforts and cooperation. I believe that in the near future, more reliable engines can be delivered to the troops to support the transformation of air force fighters and other services. " Wang Zhonghua said.
□ Traceability
Development history of aero-engines in China
In 1950s, China aero-engine industry started from scratch and went through a road full of thorns. In 1956, China’s first turbojet -5 engine was successfully copied in Shenyang, and for a long time thereafter, China aero-engines were mainly copied and improved.
Even if it is copied, it is not easy. Even if there is no operation manual, it is difficult to disassemble the aero-engine correctly. For example, there are many small holes on the leaves of several square meters and centimeters, and the location of the small holes is very particular, which is determined according to the recorded trend. Therefore, until 2002, when the domestic turbojet -14 "Kunlun" engine was finalized, China completed the whole process of self-development for the first time and became the fifth aero-engine producer after the United States, Russia, Britain and France.
The engine used in the Flying Leopard fighter is made in China, named "Qinling", which is also the first engine product in China that has been successfully made in China by purchasing patents. From introduction to localization, it has experienced 30 years of industrial upgrading. In 1972, China contacted Britain to discuss the introduction of Rolls-Royce civil turbofan engine. In 1974, during the negotiation, to our surprise, China directly obtained the patent of Spey military engine, which was a top product at that time. However, despite the patent, China’s new industrial materials and other technologies were too backward at that time. It was not until 2013 that this road of localization was completed, and it was equipped on the J-H -7 Flying Leopard fighter, and Flying Leopard became the only main fighter in China that completely got rid of its dependence on imported engines.
In December, 2005, the turbofan -10, also known as "Taihang" engine, was successfully developed and became the first high-performance and high-thrust turbofan engine with independent intellectual property rights in China. The road to research and development of Taihang engine is also quite difficult. During the test flight, more than 200 technical problems and failures occurred successively. After hard work, the "Taihang" engine was finally equipped on the J -15 fighter and successfully made its first flight in 2012. On a group of J -20 equipment exposed at the beginning of this year, some military fans found that a J -20 was also equipped with an improved Taihang engine. Some military experts said that the "Taihang" engine can be directly equipped on the fourth generation fighter, which laid a good foundation for continuing to develop more advanced, mature and reliable engines in the future.
□ Dialogue
It is expected to catch up with the existing level of advanced engines in the world in 5 to 10 years.
Jinghua Times: China has made proud achievements in many fields, such as two bombs and one satellite, manned space flight and high-speed rail, but why is it so difficult on the road of engine development?
Guogui Wu: This is mainly caused by the characteristics of aero-engines, such as high technology, high investment, high risk and high monopoly.
As we all know, aero-engines not only need strong power, but also need to work reliably and stably in high-speed, high-temperature and high-pressure environments for a long time, involving many core technologies such as design, materials, manufacturing, control and technology. At present, only the United States, Europe, Russia and so on have the independent research and production capacity of advanced engines.
Objectively speaking, the gap between China and the United States, Europe and Russia in the engine field is not small. Mainly reflected in several aspects:
First, the concept of engine development is relatively backward. Most advanced countries manage and develop aero-engines as an independent industry and an important system. Their idea is to design the aircraft according to the engine, but we design the aircraft first and then choose the engine, without putting the engine in its proper position, and develop it in parallel as the main field. As a result, the engine held the plane back. On the road of engine development, it is the old road of introduction, imitation and improvement for a long time, and it is not determined to take the road of independent innovation in a timely manner. Although it met the urgent needs of the army, it did not really master the core technology, thus losing some opportunities for independent development.
Second, the management system and management mode are relatively backward. Since the establishment of China’s aviation industry, engines have been managed as a part of aviation industry and an important system of aircraft. This system and mode played an important role in the era of planned economy, which was conducive to concentrating strength and unifying actions. However, in the long run, on the one hand, there are some uncoordinated phenomena among various institutes and factories in the engine industry in terms of resource competition and joint efforts to tackle key problems; On the other hand, on the whole, it brings the entanglement of small and complete, difficult to get together, not far away, and difficult to give up. As a result, it will inevitably weaken the professionalism and importance of the engine, which is not conducive to long-term planning, large-scale production and market competition.
The United States, Europe and Russia set up group companies like General Dynamics, Pratt Whitney, Rolls-Royce and United Engine Manufacturing to conduct unified management, which is conducive to industrial planning, optimizing resources, concentrating on tackling key problems, mass production and market competition, forming a monopoly position in technology and market.
Third, the overall level of the engine is low. Mainly reflected in: low push-to-weight ratio in performance indicators, high fuel consumption ratio in economy, poor reliability in safety, short-board products in specifications and varieties, and weak market competitiveness in production scale. To improve the overall level of the engine, technically speaking, it needs to break through the difficulties of development concept, original design, high-quality materials, precision manufacturing, process standards and system control, and it also needs a long process of development, production, test, use and improvement.
Jinghua Times: Can the establishment of Hangfa Group completely solve the "heart" disease of aero-engines?
Guogui Wu: The establishment of Hangfa Group by the state has laid a solid foundation for the development of Hangfa. Personally, I think it will play three important roles:
The first is the role of strategic planning management. The country has regarded the engine as an important engine and an important starting point to realize the Chinese dream and promote the upgrading and development of the aviation industry. The establishment of Hangfa Group is to assume the main responsibility from the national level, to implement the major special development plan for engines, to plan the industrial development strategy in a unified way, to formulate the roadmap for technological development in a unified way, to coordinate the input of resources from all parties, and to focus on solving outstanding contradictions. In these respects, the group will play the role of general design, commander-in-chief and general coordination in China’s aviation development field.
The second is the unified management function of the group. Aero-engine technology is intensive, the system is complex, the investment is huge, the industrial chain is long, and there are many sectors involved. Especially in the face of the situation that the development needs are expanding day by day, the scientific and technological development is changing with each passing day, and the market competition is fierce, if China’s industry is to be based on independent innovation and scale development, it must give full play to the traditional advantages of socialist countries to concentrate on doing great things, learn from the advanced experience of modern advanced enterprises in collectivization and large-scale production, and apply advanced management ideas. Innovate the enterprise management mode, optimize the combined industry resources, implement unified management of the enterprises affiliated to the group, and build an "aircraft carrier" for R&D, production and operation of China Hangfa with world influence.
The third is the guiding function of technological innovation. The fundamental way out for China’s aviation development industry lies in independent innovation. At present, China’s aviation development industry is in a brand-new period of great model development and technological innovation. The establishment of Aviation Development Group is conducive to aiming at the advanced level, concentrating high-quality resources, grasping important links, breaking through core technologies, and adopting a two-way path of military and civilian propulsion according to the three specifications of large thrust engine, medium thrust engine and small thrust engine, so as to comprehensively promote technological innovation and catch up with the world’s advanced level.
Jinghua Times: How long is it expected for China to catch up with other powerful countries?
Guogui Wu: It takes a long period of time from design, development, production to perfection, usually more than 10 years. For example, a new type of engine independently developed and produced by our country took 18 years of tempering to truly form the combat capability of the troops. The establishment of Hangfa Group is conducive to accelerating the serialization development of new engines, pooling the strength of the whole country, and is expected to make a breakthrough in the core technology of key engines and catch up with the existing level of advanced engines in the world within 5 to 10 years. However, catching up with the world’s engine development powers as a whole cannot be separated from the national conditions and military situation, and the overall level needs to be improved.
Jinghua Times: What role can the military play in the development of aero-engines?
Guogui Wu: The army is the main user of domestic engines, and now the demand for engines in the army is very strong and urgent. China aero-engine enterprises also hope to produce more and better engines with advanced performance and high reliability to meet the needs of the army. It can be said that the two sides are both supply and demand, dependence and a community of destiny.
As far as the army is concerned, we should focus on three aspects: first, scientifically put forward military needs. With the improvement of the army’s combat effectiveness and the change of combat style, what kind of engines our army needs, what kind of technical indicators it needs to achieve, and what kind of combat scale it needs to develop, these are the basis for the development of aviation industry. The army should communicate with the aviation industry in time and accurately put forward the development traction, so that the aviation development group can clearly define its own direction and scientifically plan its development path.
The second is to use domestic engines. There are certain risks in engine development and production, and the maturity and stability of technology need a process of finding problems and improving them. For the military, of course, it is hoped or required that the engine should be advanced in performance, stable in quality, safe and reliable, and easy to guarantee, but the core issue is safety.
If the engine has quality and safety problems, it will directly restrict flight safety, combat mission and combat effectiveness. Pilots call the engine "the heart". They are not afraid of anything in combat training, and they are afraid that the engine will go wrong. It is not only a threat to life safety, but also a dilemma between saving Hawk and parachuting. But on the whole, the army has confidence in domestic engines, and hopes that a new generation of fighters can be equipped with new domestic engines. The problems exposed in the process of combat readiness training or operational use can be collected and analyzed in time, and accurately fed back to the engine industry department for joint research and effective solution, so as to continuously improve the engine industry level.
The third is to actively participate in the research and development of new engines. The military, especially pilots, are very sensitive to the technical development trend and usage rules of engines, and have natural first-hand advantages. Therefore, the military should closely follow and master the new technologies and trends in the world’s advanced engine field, take the initiative to participate, and work with aviation industry departments to jointly study military needs, design principle prototypes, study test methods, determine technical standards, supervise the development quality, put forward improvement suggestions, jointly promote the research and development of new engines, and get out of the integration of defense and civilian technologies-style way to develop new engines.
Jinghua Times: What is the significance of the complete localization of aero-engines?
Guogui Wu: Aero-engine is equivalent to the engine for the whole aviation industry to take off and the heart for fighters to win the battle. At the same time, it is also a highly technical and competitive industry, which will play an important role in the transformation and development of the air force and the victory of operations, as well as the upgrading of the entire aviation industry. This strategic significance is no less valuable to national security, aviation industry and even the improvement of China’s manufacturing level than major scientific and technological achievements such as "two bombs and one satellite" and manned space flight.
Jinghua Times: On the road of development, will military engines focus on civilian use?
Guogui Wu: In terms of the usage rules of engines, in the past, advanced engines were usually given priority in the military field. However, with the rapid development of aviation, the market share of the world’s advanced engine groups is mainly in a large number of civil aircraft. New engines with large thrust-to-weight ratio, energy saving, environmental protection, safety and automatic control are increasingly used in civil aircraft, while new engines with hypersonic and new cycle system are mainly used in military aircraft. After the establishment of Hangfa Group, in addition to meeting the military needs, it will also pay attention to meeting the engine use needs of civil aircraft. Only Qi Fei with military and civil wings can usher in the vigorous development of aero-engines in China.
Jinghua Times reporter Pan Shanju