Several internet sources list a Long March 2E derivative, labeled "Long March 2E(A)," as "in development" (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_(rocket_family); although Wikipedia is not always a great source, the Long March pages may very well be edited by readers of this forum). If flown, the 2E(A) would be the most powerful Chinese rocket until the Long March 5 comes on line. However, I have not heard any news on development of this rocket in years. Is the 2E(A) still planned?
This was mooted - along with a CZ-3B(E) - in the early 1990s or very late 1980s but all talk of it seemed to die when the Chinese started to discuss the CZ-5 and its derivatives.
I am not sure whether the CZ-2E(A) or CZ-3B(E) were funded vehicles or simply proposals by the launch vehicle designers.
I believe they are scraped in the late 90s as more strict ITAR restriction meant there will be little demand for these rockets during its operational years. It would be more beneficial to focus resource on the more advanced LM5 rocket, as its long development time is no longer an issue, and would actually give room for Chinese satellite industry as well as domestic demand for large payloads to catch up and external environment to change.
The CZ-2 / CZ-3 / CZ-4 are similar to Ariane 1 - 4 in overall configuration. The CZ-2E(A] would be like Ariane 44L - double the payload by doubling the number of stage 1 engines, through podded engines.
The 2E(A) would have been capable of launching the cargo freighter to the Tiangong orbital complex: or orbiting a space station mo0dule a bit smaller than those which are planned.
Several internet sources list a Long March 2E derivative, labeled "Long March 2E(A)," as "in development" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_(rocket_family); although Wikipedia is not always a great source, the Long March pages may very well be edited by readers of this forum). If flown, the 2E(A) would be the most powerful Chinese rocket until the Long March 5 comes on line. However, I have not heard any news on development of this rocket in years. Is the 2E(A) still planned?
CZ-2EA is a paper rocket,it had died for several years
the CZ-2F/H(CZ-7) may be derived from CZ-2EA
Originally when the Chinese started to talk about future versions of the CZ-2 and CZ-3 in the mid-1980s they included a CZ-2/8L vehicle which would have had a modified CZ-2 core - as used on the CZ-2/4L which would later mutate into the CZ-2E - with eight strap-ons, each strap-on having a single engine.
When the CZ-2E(A) appeared this was clearly a re-designed CZ-2/8L, this time with each strap-on having two engines and having approximately twice the propellant capacity of the individual CZ-2/4L strap-ons.