...However, during the same process, someone (not official) disclosed that beside the required changes as per need which are not the Technical faults at all, I must clarify, there was slightly heating issue and could be due to required tweak of engine being faced in specific hot areas though could be as might the Bird wouldn't be designed for such condition. Although, the logic about necessary changes and required modification carries more weight than engine issue alone as the bird is already being inducted in large numbers by China herself for the designated role.
Bismillah ir Rahman ar Raheem
As Oscar has said, the problem with the Z-10 is the power-to-weight ratio.
CAIC Z-10:
16,000 lbs. / 2700 shp. = @ 6 lbs./shp
20,000 ft. ceiling claimed (highly dubious)
AH1F Modernized:
10,000 lbs. / 1,800 shp. = @ 5.5 lbs./shp
12,000+ ft. ceiling
TAI T-129:
11,000 lbs. / 2,700 shp. = @ 4 lbs./shp
20,000 ft. ceiling or thereabouts
AH1Z:
18,500 lbs. / 3,600shp. = @ 5 lbs./shp.
20,000+ ft. ceiling
The Turkish were still not satisfied with the hot-and-high performance of the T-129, specially after the ballast that was added to overcome a slight problem. They need the high-altitude performance to combat the Kurds in the mountains, and finally approved the T-129 for hot-and-high after extensive testing this year.
Having seen the Z-10's demo, I think it can be safely said that it can use another 500-900 shp. Pakistan will probably use the old AH-1S/Fs in the mountains (operationally), but still the Z-10 will be barely adequate in the plains. I doubt it will be able to turn and run in the summers of the Lahore and Bahawalpur theaters (40-50 Celsius temperatures).
Anyway, just my observation. The Z-10 sure is a beautiful machine and if the reports about the satisfactory performance of the avionics and munitions are true, might be a worthwhile addition to the armory.
Hifz u kum Allah
