Casual Discussion What is gonna happen with our J85 and J79 jet engines?

[Nutuk]

Our defense industry has come to a point to develop unmanned fighter jets. As we know development of unmanned jet drones like the MIUS is continuing

MIUS is to be equipped with AI-322F and AI-25TLT Turbofan engines.
But we have also a whole stash of engines from aircraft that we put on storage from F5 (J85 engine) and F4 (J79 engine) fighter aircraft. I wondered whether it is not possible to use these engines in unmanned fighters as well (better than let them rot away)

Specs:

- AI-222-25 / AI322F 5,552.78 lbf (24.7 kN) dry / 9,262.13 lbf (41.2 kN) with afterburner.
- J79-GE-17A after-burning turbojet engines, 11,905 lbf (52.96 kN) thrust each dry, 17,845 lbf (79.38 kN) with afterburner
- J85-GE-21 afterburning turbojet engines, 3,500 lbf (16 kN) thrust each dry, 5,000 lbf (22 kN) with afterburner


To make it more easy to compare the respective engine powers:

- J85 = 16 KN / 22KN
- AI-222-25 = 24.7 KN
- AI322F = 41.2 KN
- J79 = 52.96 KN / 79.38 KN


So we have quite a range to equip / develop certain types of unmanned drones / fighters

Is it an idea to use these engines or is it just a dumb idea?

 

[TR_123456]

Is it an idea to use these engines or is it just a dumb idea?

J79 dry weight 1740 kg,to heavy,to big for drones and modern fighters(F404,1035kg,F414,1100 kg).

 

[Nutuk]

Yes apart from the weight and length F404 is pretty identical to J79 in thrust

Weight issue is indeed a minus but it is also pity to just throw them away.

 

[Nutuk]

PS side note info, from the J85 turbojet the T-700 turboshaft engine of the black hawk helicopter is derived

Just a small example how things evolute from existing systems.

Same will happen with the TS1400 core engine. Once the core engine is working clockwork many good other derivations can be made

 

[Combat-Master]

PS side note info, from the J85 turbojet the T-700 helicopter turboshaft engine of the black hawk helicopter is derived

Just a small example how things evolute from existing systems.

Same will happen with the TS1400 core engine. Once the core engine is working clockwork many good other derivations can be made

TS1400 core has limitations to it's design, the best that we could expect would be similar to TFE1042 a weight of 1,360 lbs (617 kg) with thrust of 18.9 kN dry and 30.2 kN with afterburner.

 

[Nilgiri]

Our defense industry has come to a point to develop unmanned fighter jets. As we know development of unmanned jet drones like the MIUS is continuing

MIUS is to be equipped with AI-322F and AI-25TLT Turbofan engines.
But we have also a whole stash of engines from aircraft that we put on storage from F5 (J85 engine) and F4 (J79 engine) fighter aircraft. I wondered whether it is not possible to use these engines in unmanned fighters as well (better than let them rot away)

Specs:

- AI-222-25 / AI322F 5,552.78 lbf (24.7 kN) dry / 9,262.13 lbf (41.2 kN) with afterburner.
- J79-GE-17A after-burning turbojet engines, 11,905 lbf (52.96 kN) thrust each dry, 17,845 lbf (79.38 kN) with afterburner
- J85-GE-21 afterburning turbojet engines, 3,500 lbf (16 kN) thrust each dry, 5,000 lbf (22 kN) with afterburner


To make it more easy to compare the respective engine powers:

- J85 = 16 KN / 22KN
- AI-222-25 = 24.7 KN
- AI322F = 41.2 KN
- J79 = 52.96 KN / 79.38 KN


So we have quite a range to equip / develop certain types of unmanned drones / fighters

Is it an idea to use these engines or is it just a dumb idea?

Can look at doing something similar to this:

China Shows Off Its ‘Fighter Jet Drones’ That Can Overwhelm Enemy Defenses; Experts Say Again Inspired By US Air Force

As China’s PLA Air Force (PLAAF) showed off its J-6 fighter-turned-drone, military experts draw parallels with the US Air Force’s history of converting warplanes such as the F-4 and F-16 into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). China Says Its New ASAT Missile Can Not Only ‘Melt Down’ Enemy...

eurasiantimes.com

Has China copied an American tried-and-tested formula? The US Air Force has long undertaken a similar project to convert its aging F-16 variants and repurpose them as operational drones.

The USAF, however, intended to use these “dronified F-16s” to test new weapons and air assets, particularly the F-35 Joint Strike Fight. Prior to its refurbishment of F-16s, the service had been catering to this training requirement with its F-4 Phantoms.

The US, however, turned towards the F-16 following a shortage of obsolete F-4 Phantoms to repurpose. The process, according to Woodrow Bellamy, writing for Aviation Today, involves ripping out unnecessary components and replacing them with 3,000 wires, a flight control computer, and a new autopilot.

The planes are also redesignated with the prefix “Q,” the military aviation code for unmanned aircraft, making them QF-16s.

@Cabatli_53 @Anmdt et al.