29 September 2011

John Reed, DoD Buzz: “China’s Ability to Make Quality Jet Engines”

John Reed, China’s Ability to Make Quality Jet Engines,” DoD Buzz, 28 September 2011.

…China is making strides when it comes to jet engine development. A few months ago, U.S. Naval War College professor Andrew Erickson released this analysis of China’s ability to produce modern fighter engines. Now, Erickson is taking aim at China’s advances in building jet engines for large aircraft for both military and civilian use.

Here are some key points from Erickson’s latest report that he co-wrote with Gabe Collins…

Now here’s a very interesting point made by Erickson and Collins — the West, in its rush to supply the booming Chinese aviation market may be helping to develop China’s military edge….

To read the full-length version of the report referenced here, see Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “A Chinese ‘Heart’ for Large Civilian and Military Aircraft: Strategic and commercial implications of China’s campaign to develop high-bypass turbofan jet engines,” Deep Dive—Special In-Depth Report No. 3, China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 47 (19 September 2011).

For the companion study on Chinese military aeroengines, see Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, “Jet Engine Development in China: Indigenous high-performance turbofans are a final step toward fully independent fighter production,” Deep Dive—Special In-Depth Report No. 2, China SignPost™ (洞察中国), No. 39 (26 June 2011).