Z-10
A first glimpse of an Army Aviation Z-10 attack helicopter is shown here. Co-developed by the 602 Institute, 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 adopts 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 was powered initially by two P&W PT6C-76C turboshaft engines (rated @ 1,250kW each). However domestic developed engines (upgrated WZ-9?) are being used in production batches due to the embargo imposed by the west. 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 23 or 30mm cannon mounted under the chin, aimed via gunner's helmet mounted sight. Furthermore PL-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. RWR and MAWS sensors are installed on both sides of the forward and aft fuselage. In addition, a laser warning receiver is installed on top of the pylon on each side. The helicopter may also be fitted with an integrated communication/navigation system, a comprehensive ECM suite, IFF, chaff/flare launchers, 1553B databus, and a glass cockpit. 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. Several Z-10 prototypes powered by PT6C-76C engine were evaluated by the Army by 2007. In 2009 it was reported that an "optimized" version (Z-10A?) was under developemnt and expected to enter the mass production. This version has a reduced weight and is powered by the upgraded WZ-9 engines. The latest images (December 2010) confirmed that at least 8 Z-10s of the first batch have entered the service with PLA Army Aviation (S/N LH951xx).
- Last Updated 1/25/11