China's Gas Turbine Research Institute (GTRI) has within 18 months designed and tested a prototype of a new turbofan engine for fighter aircraft, according to a 17 April report published in the state-owned Global Times newspaper.

This suggests that China may have finally resolved the long-standing difficulties that have hampered its production of military aircraft engines and forced it to import Russian-made engines for several of its major aircraft projects.

No details of the engine, including its designation, have been revealed, but official statements claimed that the new engine would "rival advanced foreign fighter jets and represents China's highest technical level in aero engines".

Source: janes