Russian United Engine Corporation has exhibited the AL-51 afterburning turbofan for the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter in China.
The engine, formerly named Izdeliye 30 as the project designation, was shown publicly for the first time at the Chinese Zhuhai Airshow 2024.
The initial production of Su-57s used the AL-41F turbofans from Su-35 fighter jets, which did not meet the Su-57's performance stealth requirements well.
The new engine retains the 3D thrust vectoring nozzle and an increased thrust of 108/167 kN (Dry/Afterburner) from AL41's 86/137 kN. The significantly higher dry thrust is expected to allow the Su-57 to have a more solid supercruise capability.
Russia also exhibited AL-31FN turbofan for the Chinese J-10 fighter and AL-31FP for the Indian Su-30MKI fighter. While China is heavily inclined to abandon Russian engines for its combat aircraft (J-10, the new version of J-35...), India remains a customer of potential with the recent agreement for additional AL-31FP turbofans. The approved agreement consists of 240 AL-31FP engines for Su-30MKI fighter jets with local production involved.
Russia's marketing of its turbofans to two opposing parties in Asia also makes for a rather interesting scene, considering the well-known rivalry between China and India.
