Technical Details
China's Aero Engine Corporation successfully tested a Chinese-made turbofan engine with a thrust class of 600 kg. The test took place on May 23 in the sky over Inner Mongolia: the engine was installed on a two-engine unmanned aerial vehicle of a new generation and worked without failures throughout the entire flight.
Background and Context
According to Chinese media, this is the first time China has achieved full localization and independent production of a high-tech small-sized turbofan engine for civil and unmanned aviation. In Beijing, the project is called an important step towards reducing dependence on foreign aviation technologies.
Industry Impact
The new engine is designed primarily for heavy drones with a mass of 1.5 to 4 tons, as well as for prospective systems of the «low-altitude economy» — a direction that includes drones, air taxis, and automated aviation logistics. The development progressed extremely quickly even by the standards of the aviation industry: from the start of design to the successful launch of the engine, less than eight months passed.