PICS:Z-10A entered service.
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fatman17
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Z-10
A rare view of the Z-10 03A prototype is shown here. Co-developed by the 602Institute, CHAIC and HAMC as the first dedicated modern attack helicopter for PLA Army Aviation since 1998, Z-10 is generally believed in the same class as South African Rooviak and Italian A129, yet still not as capable as American AH-64 Apache. The helicoter adopes a standard gunship configuration featuring a narrow fuselage and stepped tandem cockpits with the gunner in the frontseat and the pilot in the backseat. The fuselage appears to have a stealthy diamond cross section to reduce RCS. It also have a 5-blade main rotor made of composite material and an AH-64 style 4-blade tail rotor. All the vital areas of the fuselage including the cockpit and fuel tanks are believed to be protected by the armor plates. It weighs about 5.5 tons and is powered initially by two P&W PT6C-76C turboshaft engines (rated @ 1,250kW each). However domestic developed engines (upgrated WZ-9?) may be used later in production batches. Its rotor and transmission systems may have been designed with extensive technical assistance from Eurocopter France and Agusta. Its weapon system may consist of up to 8 HJ-8A ATGMs in box launchers under the stub wings and a 30mm cannon mounted under the chin, aimed via gunner's helmet mounted sight. Furthermore TY-90 AAMs can be carried against enemy helicopters and slow-moving fixed wing aircraft. It can also carry 8 newly developed KD-10 ATGMs in the same class of AGM-114 Hellfire. Similar to AH-64, Z-10 features a large nose turret housing FLIR, TV camera, laser range finder and designator. Two MAWS sensors are installed on both sides of the fuselage behind the nose turret. The helicopter may also be fitted with an integrated communication/navigation system, a comprehensive ECM suite, 1553B databus, and a glass cockpit. Contrary to western speculations, 2 prototypes were built in 2003 and 6 more were built in 2004. The first flight of 02 prototype took place on April 29, 2003. Recent images indicated that its engine exausts have been modified to reduce IR signature (pointing upward). Several Z-10 prototypes powered by PT6C-76C engine were evaluated by the Army by 2007. Recent news suggested that an "optimized" version (Z-10A?) has been under developemnt and is expected to enter the mass production. This version has a reduced weight and is powered by the upgraded WZ-9 engines. The latest rumor claimed that the first batch of Z-10A is entering service with PLA Army Aviation.
- Last Updated 11/2/10
A rare view of the Z-10 03A prototype is shown here. Co-developed by the 602Institute, CHAIC and HAMC as the first dedicated modern attack helicopter for PLA Army Aviation since 1998, Z-10 is generally believed in the same class as South African Rooviak and Italian A129, yet still not as capable as American AH-64 Apache. The helicoter adopes a standard gunship configuration featuring a narrow fuselage and stepped tandem cockpits with the gunner in the frontseat and the pilot in the backseat. The fuselage appears to have a stealthy diamond cross section to reduce RCS. It also have a 5-blade main rotor made of composite material and an AH-64 style 4-blade tail rotor. All the vital areas of the fuselage including the cockpit and fuel tanks are believed to be protected by the armor plates. It weighs about 5.5 tons and is powered initially by two P&W PT6C-76C turboshaft engines (rated @ 1,250kW each). However domestic developed engines (upgrated WZ-9?) may be used later in production batches. Its rotor and transmission systems may have been designed with extensive technical assistance from Eurocopter France and Agusta. Its weapon system may consist of up to 8 HJ-8A ATGMs in box launchers under the stub wings and a 30mm cannon mounted under the chin, aimed via gunner's helmet mounted sight. Furthermore TY-90 AAMs can be carried against enemy helicopters and slow-moving fixed wing aircraft. It can also carry 8 newly developed KD-10 ATGMs in the same class of AGM-114 Hellfire. Similar to AH-64, Z-10 features a large nose turret housing FLIR, TV camera, laser range finder and designator. Two MAWS sensors are installed on both sides of the fuselage behind the nose turret. The helicopter may also be fitted with an integrated communication/navigation system, a comprehensive ECM suite, 1553B databus, and a glass cockpit. Contrary to western speculations, 2 prototypes were built in 2003 and 6 more were built in 2004. The first flight of 02 prototype took place on April 29, 2003. Recent images indicated that its engine exausts have been modified to reduce IR signature (pointing upward). Several Z-10 prototypes powered by PT6C-76C engine were evaluated by the Army by 2007. Recent news suggested that an "optimized" version (Z-10A?) has been under developemnt and is expected to enter the mass production. This version has a reduced weight and is powered by the upgraded WZ-9 engines. The latest rumor claimed that the first batch of Z-10A is entering service with PLA Army Aviation.
- Last Updated 11/2/10
Dragon Emperor
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China has a very small number of helicopters in spite of its huge size as a country. Even Iran has more helicopters than China, eventhough their economy is more than 10 times smaller. Let's hope that China will build more helicopters for attack and disaster relief missions.
siegecrossbow
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Good news if true. China desperately needs a true attack helo.
TaimiKhan
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From these pictures, it does not show that it has entered production or service.
When pictures of multiple platforms, in PLA colors with identification numbers start appearing, then we can say that it has entered service.
When pictures of multiple platforms, in PLA colors with identification numbers start appearing, then we can say that it has entered service.
fatman17
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TK>>the blog which is reporting this news is one of the best chinese blogs on the internet - its reports are generally accurate!
siegecrossbow
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You mean Feiyang?
TaimiKhan
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Agreed Sir, but I have been going through some good Chinese forums for a long time, CDF, Sino Def Forum and few others, this kind of rumor came earlier too that it has entered limited service, but we never saw any picture of any limited service edition in PLA colors, so that is why I am expressing my doubt. These pictures are in white paint, not PLA color scheme, it can either be a production model going testing or another prototype.
TaimiKhan
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