【航空报国】MU7801 B-919A
China’s efforts to develop an indigenous turbofan engine for its C919 narrowbody passenger jet are making significant strides, according to industry experts and executives from the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC).
Speaking at an aviation forum in Taicang, Jiangsu province, Shi Jianzhong, honorary president of the Shanghai Society of Aeronautics and a former deputy general manager at the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), stated that the CJ-1000 engine had surpassed his expectations in recent trial runs. He emphasized that its success would showcase China’s resilience in building a self-sufficient aviation supply chain.
The CJ-1000 is China’s first domestically developed high-bypass turbofan engine, intended as an alternative to the Leap engine, which Comac currently sources from CFM International, a joint venture between the U.S.-based GE Aerospace and France’s Safran.
Wu Guowei, deputy general manager of AECC Chengdu Engine, confirmed that the CJ-1000 would soon be used for verification flights on the C919, following successful testing on the Y-20 military transport aircraft. Images of the engine mounted on a Y-20 test bed have been circulating on Chinese social media since 2023. However, Wu clarified that replacing all Leap engines with the CJ-1000 was not the primary goal, but rather to provide a domestically developed alternative.
Challenges in China’s Engine Development
China, as the world’s second-largest economy and a major aviation market, has long sought to build a commercially viable jet engine to reduce dependence on Western technology. However, challenges such as limited expertise in aircraft engine manufacturing, testing, and assembly have contributed to delays.
Currently, the C919 remains reliant on Western technology despite more than a decade of development. This dependency poses a strategic risk, as geopolitical tensions and potential export restrictions could disrupt China’s commercial aircraft ambitions, including the C929 widebody jet.
During his presidency, Donald Trump reportedly considered blocking the sale of Leap engines to Comac, highlighting the vulnerability of China’s aviation sector. Additionally, some AECC affiliates have been blacklisted by the U.S. government as military end users, restricting their access to American technology.
AI and Computing: The Future of Engine Development
AECC executives see artificial intelligence (AI) as a critical tool for advancing China’s engine development. Mei Qing, general manager of AECC Commercial Aircraft Engine, noted at the Taicang forum that while AI could accelerate progress, challenges remain.
“General AI algorithms struggle to adapt to the complexities of engine development,” Mei said. “More advanced algorithms are required for tasks such as configuration design and high-precision simulations.”
He also pointed out that computing power is a limiting factor, as centralized data centers are inadequate for the real-time simulations and test flight analyses required in engine development. Mei stressed the need for a robust computing infrastructure combining cloud computing and edge computing to enhance design and testing efficiency.
Overcoming Western Technology Barriers
With China’s push for technological self-reliance, AECC is also focusing on developing domestic industrial software and AI frameworks tailored for aerospace engineering. Mei warned that Western restrictions on technology exports could slow down progress and called for increased investment in AI talent.
“There is a shortage of experts who understand both aerospace engineering and AI,” Mei explained. “To bridge this gap, we need better collaboration between educational institutions and enterprises, including applied courses and joint training programs.”
China’s drive to develop a homegrown aviation engine is not just about technological advancement but also about reducing reliance on foreign suppliers amid geopolitical uncertainties. While challenges remain, the progress of the CJ-1000 engine marks an important step toward achieving greater self-sufficiency in the aerospace sector.
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