Safran Ardiden 3C
Safran Ardiden 3C turboshaft variant, also designated WZ16 in the Chinese certification and production context. Safran specifies a 1,700–2,000-shp class twin-spool centrifugal-compressor design with next-generation FADEC, joint development with AECC, EASA and CAAC certification, and AC352 installation/test context. CAAC records 1,249 kW takeoff power, production approval in 2021, and four WZ16 deliveries for Z15 helicopters by the end of 2023; active production evidence is now established, while an exact Z15 relationship remains outside this row until a canonical vehicle-family ID is available.
Identity
- Aliases
- Ardiden 3CSafran Ardiden 3CWZ16
- Domains
- aviation
- Identity Level
- variant
- Kind
- turboshaft
- Name
- Safran Ardiden 3C
- Status
- active
Details
- Air Breathing Specs
- Shaft Power Kw
- 1,249
- Description
- Safran Ardiden 3C turboshaft variant, also designated WZ16 in the Chinese certification and production context. Safran specifies a 1,700–2,000-shp class twin-spool centrifugal-compressor design with next-generation FADEC, joint development with AECC, EASA and CAAC certification, and AC352 installation/test context. CAAC records 1,249 kW takeoff power, production approval in 2021, and four WZ16 deliveries for Z15 helicopters by the end of 2023; active production evidence is now established, while an exact Z15 relationship remains outside this row until a canonical vehicle-family ID is available.
- Developers
- Family
- Manufacturers
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 7, 2026 at 22:50:12 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 14, 2026 at 20:29:41 UTC
Other
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- Safran identifies WZ16/Ardiden 3C as a 1,700–2,000-shp twin-spool engine, CAAC-certified and jointly developed with AECC for the AC352 helicopter.
- Publisher
- Safran Helicopter Engines
- Title
- Ardiden 3C, the first jointly-developed aero engine to be entirely certified in China
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- Safran reports EASA type certification of Ardiden 3C and distinguishes it from the 3G model in the Ardiden 3 family.
- Publisher
- Safran Helicopter Engines
- Title
- Ardiden 3C obtains EASA type certification
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- Safran describes the joint Safran/AECC development boundary and WZ16 designation for Ardiden 3C.
- Publisher
- Safran
- Title
- Safran and AECC introduce the WZ16
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- CAAC identifies WZ16 as a 1,249 kW takeoff-power civil turboshaft installed on the 7-ton Z15 helicopter and records its 2019 type certificate.
- Publisher
- Civil Aviation Administration of China
- Title
- Key Type-Review Achievements — WZ16 Engine
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- CAAC reports WZ16 production approval in 2021 and four engines delivered for the Z15 by the end of 2023, supporting active production evidence.
- Publisher
- Civil Aviation Administration of China — Northeast Regional Administration
- Title
- Annual Quality-System Review of AECC Dongan