The Z-9 is a Chinese military utility helicopter. It is a license-built version of the French Eurocopter Dauphin, and is manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The first Z-9 flew in 1981, and was built in China from components supplied by Aérospatiale, but by the early 1990s the Z-9B was being built from over 70% indigenous Chinese components. [citation needed]
[edit] Variants
An attack helicopter variant has been fielded by the PLA since the early 1990s as the WZ-9 or Z-9W, with pylons fitted for anti-tank missiles. These helicopters lack the manuverability and survivability of a proper attack helicopter, and merely provide a stopgap during the development of the WZ-10. The latest armed version, the Z-9G, was introduced in 2005 and has night attack capabilities, with an under-nose low-light TV and infra-red observing and tracking unit.
The naval version introduced in the 1990s is known as the Z-9C. As well as SAR and ASW duties, the Z-9C can be fitted with an X-band KLC-1 surface search radar to detect surface targets beyond the range of shipborne radar systems.[1]
[edit] Specifications (Z-9B)
Data from Z-9 Utility Helicopter - SinoDefence.com[/url]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 10 armed soldiers
Payload: 2,038kg (4,493lbs)
Length: 13.46m (without rotors); 13.68m (with rotors) ()
Rotor diameter: ()
Height: 3.47m ()
Empty weight: 2,050kg (4,519lbs)
Max takeoff weight: 4,100kg (9,038lbs)
Powerplant: × 2 Turbomeca Arriel-1C1 (produced under licence as WZ-8A)
Performance
Maximum speed: 315km/h (170 kts)
Cruise speed: 280km/h (150 kts)
Service ceiling: 6,000m (20,000ft)
Armament
2 fixed 23mm cannons on attack variants. Pylon stores for rockets, gun pods, ET52 torpedo, HJ-8 anti-tank missiles, or TY-90 air-to-air missiles.
Harbin Z-9 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia