China is close to volume production of aero-engines that can handle higher internal temperatures, increasing performance, durability or both, very probably for use in combat aircraft. The shift is revealed in market inquiries for large supplies of rhenium, a rare metal that increases the temperature-resistance of turbine blades. Timing of production of the new or upgraded engines is unclear, but the metal is needed from 2016. Likely, some is intended for stockpiling.

As China’s well-funded push to build up its aero-engine industry gathers strength, details are emerging of new aviation powerplants in early development. Three of these—a turboprop, turboshaft and turbofan—form a family built on a common core, a cost-effective development practice that the Western industry now rarely uses. Two others, turbofans for commercial aircraft, are based on the common approach of scaling turbo machinery up or down to meet different thrust requirements.

No one doubts China’s eagerness to move into the civil aircraft-engine sector with a broad range of products. But Avic’s ability to verify the performance and safety of its civil engines, always in question, is now confirmed to be quite lacking.