China's New Helicopters - Z-10 and Z-19

[Forest Green]

China unveils export version of attack helicopter

This marks the first time Chinese state-owned companies displayed a military aircraft in an airshow outside the country.

www.defensenews.com

 

[RavenOne]

So according to https://chinese-military-aviation.blogspot.com/p/helicopters-i.html

Rumours of high speed compound helicopter using Z-19 airframe took place end of last year, aptly known as Iron Eagle



cheers

 

[Graugrun]

A surprise apearance at the South African AAD 2024 show that opened today..

 

[GTX]

Discover Z-10ME: China's Attack Helicopter Presents for International Market at AAD 2024

Discover Z-10ME: China's Attack Helicopter Presents for International Market at AAD 2024

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[yasotay]

Not surprising if you think about it. Probably the right price point for much of Africa with likely Chinese financial incentives. Not American or Russian heavy political implications, and not European. Would not be surprised to see Turkey and Korea compete with China on the continent.

 

[lancer21]

Pakistan received the first Z-10ME helicopters.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1951509458141552796

View: https://x.com/Raad_Pak/status/1951509458141552796

 

[FighterJock]

So will Pakistan buy the Z-10ME? Or will it just end up being like the J-35 purchase and go nowhere?

 

[lancer21]

See the post above? They already received them.

 

[FighterJock]

Thanks lancer21, I had originally thought that the Z-10ME were only in Pakistan for evaluation purposes.

 

[helmutkohl]

in this photo you can see the Pakistan Army on the tail, flag and number.
I'm surprised they stuck with the dark colors instead of the camoflage one shown in GTX's post

 

[GTX]

Pakistan inducts Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopters​

 

[SUPER=BUG]

Years later, in the end, they chose the Z10, and it seems that the engine problem of that year has now been solved.

 

[yasotay]

Pakistan inducts Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopters​

Not surprising to me that the Pakistani elected to go with Z-10ME. If you look at the building behind the acceptance party, you will note that both of the squadrons were AH-1 Cobra units. The Z-10, albeit improved are close to size and weight class to the Cobra's that the Pakistani Army Aviation has been flying for years. Certainly will make for a smoother transition I think.

 

[SUPER=BUG]

The new variant of the Z10 serving in the'PLA.

 

[FighterJock]

Looks like the new variant of the Z-10 now has the milimetric radar on top of the rotor mast. Does that mean that all future Z-10s will have it fitted as standard or will it be like what the US Army does with the Apache and have the lead helicopter with the radar attached and the other helicopters in the group having to use a data link?

 

[yasotay]

Radars add weight and stress to the main module. More weight and drag means less performance and higher maintenance cost. I would be surprised if the PLA elects to outfit all aircraft with the radar.

 

[FighterJock]

So lead Z-10s only for the radar yasotay. Also I take it that they already have associated millimetre guided missiles to go with the radar?

 

[yasotay]

I think that the number of radar will depend on the mission. I think the U.S.Army has 2 or 3 radar per company. So it could be that a team of two or three helicopters will have one radar. Conversely I believe that the UK Army Air Corps opted to fit every AH-64 with radar. So while I think it does not need to be 1 radar per aircraft, one of the primary AH-64 users would disagree. I would note that the radars on AH-64 are modular so they can be taken off one aircraft and put on another.

 

[FighterJock]

Thanks yasotay.