Changhe Z-10 Attack Helicopter

Changhe Z-10 Attack Helicopter

Changhe Z-10 Attack Helicopter

The Changhe Z-10 is a Chinese medium attack helicopter developed for the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force.

The Chinese Changhe Z-10 was designed with input from the Russian Kamov design bureau. It is the first indigenous attack helicopter produced in China. A fresh design with an introduction dating back to 2012, numerically, it already covers the needs of the Chinese armed forces.

1. Purpose and Design:

   • The Z-10 is primarily designed for anti-tank warfare missions but has secondary air-to-air combat capability.
   • The project was initiated by chief designer Wu Ximing. Initially, Russian involvement was with the Kamov Design Bureau, but collaboration was halted due to disagreements over design philosophy.
   • The Chinese designers and the PLA General Armaments Department preferred a lighter-weight, more agile airframe with less emphasis on armor.

2. Development Timeline:

   • Early Exploration: In 1979, the Chinese military recognized the need for dedicated attack helicopters to counter large armored formations.
   • Evaluation of Options: China evaluated the Agusta A129 Mangusta and secured an agreement with the United States to purchase AH-1 Cobras and a license to produce BGM-71 TOW missiles (though the latter was canceled due to political events).
   • Local Development: The Z-10’s development began in the late 1990s, and its first flight took place on April 29, 2003.

3. Nickname Origins:

   • The Z-10 and its lighter counterpart, the Harbin Z-19, were named after characters from the Chinese classic novel Water Margin:
     • Z-10: Fierce Thunderbolt (Pi Li Huo), the nickname of Qin Ming.
     • Z-19: Black Whirlwind (Hei Xuan Feng), the nickname of Li Kui.

4. Current Status:

   • In September 2016, the PLA announced that all of its army aviation units had been equipped with the Z-10.

The Z-10 is a significant addition to China’s military aviation capabilities, enhancing its ability to engage both ground targets and other aircraft.

Blue Sky navigation pod

Specifications:

• Crew: 2
• Length: 14.15 m (46 ft 5 in) 
• Height: 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in) 
• Empty weight: 5,100 kg (11,244 lb)
• Gross weight: 5,540 kg (12,214 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × WZ-9 turboshaft engines, 930–957 kW (1,247–1,283 hp) each
• Main rotor diameter: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
• Cruise speed: 230 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
• Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 6,400 m (21,000 ft)
• g limits: +3
• Rate of climb: 10 m/s (2,000 ft/min) +

weapon system

• Guns: 1x 23 mm (0.906 in) PX-10A revolver cannon or 1x 25 mm (0.984 in) M242 Bushmaster chain gun copy
• Hardpoints: 4 with a capacity of 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) useful load

  Rockets:

1. Type 57 57 mm (2.244 in) unguided rocket
2. FS70 70 mm (2.756 in) unguided rocket
3. FS70A (GR-5) 70 mm (2.756 in) guided rocket
4. FS70B 70 mm (2.756 in) air burst fragmentation rocket
5. FS90 90 mm (3.543 in) unguided rocket
6. FS90A 90 mm (3.543 in) guided rocket

   Missiles: For each hardpoint:

1. 4× HJ-8, HJ-9 laser-guided air-to-surface missiles
2. 4× AKD-10 (BA-7) laser-guided air-to-surface missiles
3. 4× AKD-9 (BA-9) laser-guided air-to-surface missiles
4. 4× AKD-21 (BA-21) millimetre-wave air-to-surface missiles
5. 4× AG300M or AG300L laser-guided air-to-surface missiles
6. 4× CM-502KG or CM-502V NLOS air-to-surface missiles
7. 2× CM-501GA NLOS air-to-surface missiles
8. 1× CM-501XA loitering munition
9. 4× TY-90 air-to-air missiles
   

Avionics

• YH millimetre-wave fire-control radar
• Helmet-mounted sight with night vision goggles
• BM/KG300G self-protection jamming pod
• Blue Sky navigation pod
• KZ900 reconnaissance pod
• YH-96 electronic warfare suite

 Top Ten Attack Helicopter

1. AH-64E Apache Guardian 
2. Mil Mi-28NM Havoc
3. Bell AH-1Z Viper
4. Eurocopter Tiger
5. TAI T129 ATAK TAI
6. Kamov Ka-52
7. Agusta A129 Mangusta
8. Mil Mi-24
9. Changhe Z-10
10. Denel Rooivalk