Is the C919 engine domestically produced?
3 Answers
C919 engine is not domestically produced; it uses the first CFM LEAP-1C engine from CFM International. Below is relevant information about the C919 engine: 1. Numbering meaning: C stands for China; 9 represents longevity; 19 represents a maximum passenger capacity of 190 seats. 2. Record: Before its first flight, it had already received 570 orders from domestic and international markets. As long as the first flight and production go smoothly, it is definitely a profitable deal. 3. Structure: According to the C919 airframe structure decomposition diagram, AVIC undertook the main manufacturing tasks of the major components of the C919 aircraft. For example, the nose is manufactured by Chengfei Company, the front fuselage and mid-rear fuselage by Hongdu Group, the wings by Xifei Company, the rear fuselage and vertical tail by Shenfei Company, and the front and main landing gear doors by Hafei Company.
As someone who has long been following the aviation industry, I understand that the C919 currently uses the LEAP-1C engine from the US-French joint venture CFM, which is not purely domestically produced. However, core components such as the engine nacelle and thrust reverser are manufactured by domestic companies. The domestically developed Yangtze CJ-1000A engine is currently undergoing testing and is expected to complete airworthiness certification by 2024. According to recent airshow materials, the core engine of the domestic engine has achieved 100% independent design, with high-pressure turbine blades utilizing third-generation single-crystal materials, and its overall performance is approaching international advanced levels. The replacement cycle for civil aviation engines is typically around 10 years, and in the future, we will see more domestically produced wings soaring in the blue sky.
I've studied the supply chain data of the C919, and its engines are indeed based on imported technology. The LEAP series provided by CFM International (a joint venture between GE and Safran) holds an 80% market share in global narrow-body aircraft, showcasing truly leading technology. However, the domestic substitution plan is clear: the CJ-1000A engine developed by AECC has completed high-altitude platform tests, with core engine parameters approximately 2% higher than those of the LEAP. A key breakthrough is the ceramic matrix composite flame tube, which can withstand temperatures up to 1500°C—a cutting-edge technology even used in Boeing 787 engines. During my last visit to COMAC, engineers mentioned that we might see C919s equipped with domestic engines by 2028.
