WZ-10 Attack Helicopter Confirmed

WZ-10 Attack Helicopter Confirmed

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The PLA Army Aviation lacks an attack helicopter such as the AH-64 Apache or Mi-28 Havoc. The limited attack helicopter force consists of 30-40 WZ-9s and 8 SA-342L Gazelles, along with 60 Mi-17 Hips with unguided rocket launchers.

The primary mission for the treetop hugging WZ-10 is battlefield interdiction, eliminating the enemy ground fixed and mobile forces, and concurrently certain air combat ability.

Development of a dedicated attack helicopter began in the mid-1990s at the 602 Institute and Changhe Aircraft Industry Company (CHAIC) in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. The new WZ-10 (Wuzhuang Zhisheng-10) is apparently similar to the South African Rooviak and Italian Agusta A129. The design uses the power plant and transmission derived from the Harbin Z-9, with the fuselage modified to accommodate two pilots.

The helicopter can carry up to 8 ATGMs, or IR-guided short-range AAMs. Although the helicopter might still not be as capable as the U.S. AH-64 Apache, it will probably play a significant role in Army Aviation modernization and force capabilities.

According to another report, the PLA originally selected the Mi-35 but chose the Rranco-German Tiger as the source of emulation. Around 1991-92 the PLA leased a single Pakistani AH-1 for technical evaluation.

Future upgrades to the WZ-10 will include sensor package carried on the Z-11 light helicopter that will improve target acquisition. The WZ-10 is equipped with FLIR thus allowing an operations in all weather.

The helicopter's net weight is approximately 5,543 kilograms. The helicopter approximate length is 14.15 meters, is 3.84 meters high, and is roughly 4.25 meters at its widest point.

The WZ-10 is believed to be equipped with flight transmission system from the Z-9. The main rotor consists of 4 blades made up of a compound material. The diameter of the blades is approximately 12 meters length. The WZ-10 has a non-traditional design that uses composite and radar absorbent materials.

The WZ-10 is believed to have two European MTR 390 turboshafts, though concrete information on the system is not entirely clear. The navigation and avionics are probably from domestic sources. The navigation system consists of radioaltimeter, Doppler radar and GPS.

Reports indicate that the WZ-10 has an optics system that relays sensor information to the pilots helmets; essentially a system similar to the US Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS). The helmet system also controls the direction that the machine gun is aiming. This allows the pilots to have an improved situation awareness as they can monitor flight systems and observe the terrain.

Two wings along the fuselage that are roughly 4.32 meters long may carry 1,500 kilograms of munitions, including a 57.0 mm multibarrel rockets, the red arrow anti-tank missile. A 23 mm machine gun is fixed to the cabin at the front of the helicopter.

The fire control system is similar to the French Starry Night digital integration design.

The cabin's bulletproof glass may resist 7.62 millimeter ammunition and composite armor under the cabin resists 12.7 millimeters machine gun fires. The cabin is equipped to maximize fire protection and the WZ-10 is also outfitted with ejection seats similar to the Ka-50.

The WZ-10 is also equipped with radar warning systems and with systems that will alert the crew that it has been targeted with laser range finders. The helicopter is also equipped with passive countermeasures and in an effort to reduce fratricide is equipped with IFF.

Future upgrades to the WZ-10A will likely include new a radar, fire control systems, infrared exhaust suppression and the ability to be flown from naval vessels.

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WZ-10 Attack Helicopter

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Changhe Aircraft Industries Group (CAIG) and China Helicopter Research and Development Institute (CHRDI), both based at Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, are currently developing an attack helicopter for the PLA. The helicopter, which is often referred to as Wuzhuang Zhisheng-10 (WZ-10), is said to be a third-generation two-seat design comparable in size and performance to the European Tiger and South African Rooivalk.

The WZ-10 helicopter is believed to have been under development since the late 1990s under tight security. Very little information about the project is available. Chenghe’s parent company, AVIC II, is currently working with European partners on the common helicopter dynamic system, which can be used on both the proposed medium helicopter and the attack helicopter. However, China has not sought outside help with the attack helicopter’s mission system, mainly due to security reasons.

Limited information revealed on Internet has confirmed that the helicopter features a stepped tandem two-seat cockpit and narrow fuselage similar to Western designs. The helicopter has a five-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor. The helicopter has a chin-mounted 30mm cannon and a pair of stub wings carrying ATGMs and/or other weapons. China is also said to have been developing the new HJ-10 ATGM comparable to the U.S. AGM-114 Hellfire for the WZ-10, but this cannot be confirmed.

As many as six prototypes are said to have been built since 2004. These helicopters are receiving extensive flight test before the design can be finalised and production approved. While this attack helicopter may not be leading edge technology by western standards, it is reasonable to assume its capabilities will be superior to those in current PLA inventory.

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China Illegally Uses Canadian Engine For Attack Helicopter

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China has officially released the photo of a mysterious Z-10 combat helicopter that was indigenously developed over a 15-year period. An official brochure on the helicopter shows that the Z-10 uses a PT6C-67C engine imported from Pratt &Whitney Canada.

Although some Western military observers had suspected that China might be attempting to use the PT6C-67C for its Z-10, this official announcement still comes as a surprise. As a military embargo against Beijing has been in place since the 1989 Tiananmen incident, this Canadian engine case may make Washington call for a tighter policy, especially regarding NATO countries.

A source from the P&W said the company did not know anything about the Z-10, claiming that the Chinese purchased its products only for use in civilian helicopters, according to the contract. Those engines were supposed to be used for the development of new 6-ton civilian helicopters and the assembly of AB-139 civilian helicopters. This indicates that China has illegally changed the purpose of the engines from a civilian to a military use.

Western military observers say that China could have manufactured more than eight Z-10s so far. The third one has just completed test flights. China has a plan to purchase more engines, allegedly for the development of new civilian 6-ton helicopters, which will allow them to build at least another seven Z-10s from now.

It is not known yet whether future Z-10s will be manufactured in large batches or will continue to use this imported engine. China may switch to an indigenously developed new engine or an upgraded version of the WZ-9 engine for mass production.

Who else has helped China to develop its Z-10 combat helicopter? An authoritative source from the South African Denel Company said that before 2001, Chinese representatives paid frequent visits to the company. They also invited company staff to visit the Chinese cities of Changhe and Harbin. The Chinese visitors were from the army, the air force and various military industrial enterprises.

"Every time, they requested to look at our Rooivalk combat helicopter. They took away all possible technical materials and took a large number of photos as well as videotapes," the source said. "They also asked so many questions. Their exchanges with us focused on the flight stability and performance features of airborne cannons. We learned from this that the Chinese were experiencing technical difficulties in the design of the Z-10, especially its maneuverability."

In 2001, the Chinese abruptly proposed to purchase one Rooivalk, but the company refused to sell it. "If they needed, they could have paid for formal technical consultation fees," the source said. "Why did they propose to buy only one helicopter? Wasn't it obvious that they intended to thoroughly study the structure of the Rooivalk? We rejected the proposal. After 2001, they never come back to us again."

Where did the Chinese go after 2001? With this question, the author visited Eurocopter Company, where a senior company official claimed, "We can say in a responsible manner that we did not have any contact with the Chinese on the design of the Z-10. The Chinese did not ask us to get involved in the project, and it would have been impossible for us to do so."

The author also visited AgustaWestland Italy. After persistent questioning, a company source acknowledged that they were involved in part of the Z-10 project, but did not reveal any details. In recent years, AgustaWestland has been considered China's closest partner among Western helicopter production enterprises. The two sides have even established a joint venture.

Under cover of jointly producing civilian helicopters, AgustaWestland has very likely given China technical information on the basic redesign of the Z-10. Accordingly, some of the configuration of the Z-10 is very close to AgustaWestland's A-129 combat helicopter. As for the weapon systems on the Z-10, most of them were manufactured in China, including the new HJ-10 anti tank missile and TY-90 air-to-air missile.

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U.S. Irked About Chinese Attack Helicopters With Canadian Engines

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The U.S. State Department is investigating how aircraft engines made near Montreal ended up in attack helicopters in China.

The maker, Pratt and Whitney Canada, says it did nothing illegal. It delivered 10 engines to Bejing in 2001 and 2002 on condition they be used only in civilian aircraft. The Liberal government of the day approved the deal, a decision the present Conservative government is supporting.

But Washington is not happy. If the engines contain U.S. technology or parts, the company could be hit with big fines for violating U.S. export laws.

It has been confirmed that the Chinese military put the Canadian engines in Z-10 attack helicopters, which can carry up to 16 anti-tank missiles.

An American military analyst, Richard Fisher, said it should come as no surprise that China ignored the conditions of the sale.

"Somebody is asleep," he told CBC News. "I would suggest the Canadian government was not defending the interests of the Canadian people. The Z-10 is just one major military program amongst hundreds that China is pursuing in order to prepare for a possible war against Taiwan."

Fisher is a vice-president of a Washington think-tank, the International Assessment and Strategy Center, and a specialist in Chinese military affairs. He said the Z-10 could also end up in Sudan or Burma, also known as Myanmar.

Canada's trade minister, David Emerson, sees no reason to get upset.

"There are no more engines being exported," he said. "I'm not sure what the U.S. is doing or not doing, but as far as we're concerned, the case is really closed."

But a U.S. State Department official calls the situation serious. Under U.S. arms trafficking laws, Washington must give its approval for U.S. products and technology to be used for military purposes in a third country.

Pratt & Whitney Canada — a unit of Connecticut-based United Technologies, a big U.S. defence contractor — isn't talking about possible American content in the engines.

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China Unveils New WZ-10 Attack Helicopter In An Air Show

November 11, 2012

China has published photos of its new attack helicopter ahead of its first public appearance in an air show.

Official media here published photos of WZ-10 attack helicopter conducting sorties.

The chopper is due to be exhibited at the Zhuhai Air Show in China's Guangdong province, state-run Global Times reported without revealing details of its capabilities.

China, which complaints of little access to advanced technologies of the US and the EU, has been developing large military hardware.

Besides launching its first aircraft carrier recently, China also unveiled a second version of the stealth bomber J-20, becoming the second country after the US to have that technology.

Wonder how they got stealth? :rolleyes: Oh yeah.