CAIC Z-10 (Fierce Thunderbolt)

History

CAIC Z-10/WZ-10 (Changhe Aircraft Industry Company/Wuzhuang Zhisheng) is a modern attack helicopter of the People's Republic of China Army (Chinese Army). It is designed to confront the threat of enemy armor head-on in a range of scenarios using advanced technology and guided munitions as well as indigenous weapon types.

The helicopter was built by China's Changhe Aircraft Industry Company (CAIC), and in March 2013 it was revealed that China had received significant assistance from Russia's Kamov Helicopters in developing the Z-10 base model. The Z-10 is the first notable design of a Chinese homegrown attack helicopter.

The Z-10 marked the departure point for the Chinese, who so far have relied heavily on modified (armed) transport types to enforce their anti-tank restrictions. This spurred the development of its own attack helicopter solution (to keep pace with other world powers) and indigenous anti-tank missile systems. Design work began as early as 1979, and modern conflicts have only accelerated the need, most notably the tank-heavy conflict in the Gulf War in 1991, when a variety of modern technologies could be used to firmly defeat numerical enemy.

The 602nd Institute used full 3D computer work to guide the localized development of new helicopter components.

The performance of the Z-10 is powered by 2 WZ-9 series turboshaft engines, each producing 1,350 SHP, based on the Pratt & Whitney Canadian Civil Design (PT6C-67C) found in other Chinese helicopters. Pratt & Whitney Canada is known to provide China with the software available to convert these civilian power plants into military systems. This allows the mount to have a top speed of over 300 km/h and a range of over 800 km. The listed reporting service is limited to 6,400 meters. The car is 3.85 meters high, the rotor diameter is 13 meters, and the barrel is 14 meters long.

The WZ-9 engine is completely assembled in China and does not rely on foreign aid. The transfer was completed with the support of the Anglo-Italian group AgustaWestland.

The U.S. government fines United Technologies Corp., the parent company of Pratt & Whitney Canada and Hamilton Sundstrand (provider of all-digital control software), $75 million for supporting foreign parties strict U.S. export regulations. In any case, the damage has been done, and the Chinese have reserved a viable turboshaft engine solution for their new attack helicopter.

The Z-10's turret is primarily armed with a 23mm automatic cannon, supplemented by an optional 30mm mount, a 30mm/40mm automatic grenade launcher or a 14.5mm replaceable heavy Gatling gun . Four available mount points can mount a variety of airborne ammunition, including HJ-8 wire-guided anti-tank, HJ-9 anti-tank, HJ-10 anti-tank, TY-90 air-to-air, PL-5 short-range air Air-to-air, PL-7 - air-to-air and PL-9 short-range air-to-air missiles. Like other attack helicopters in this class, the Z-10 is certified to carry rocket pods that arrive as unguided 57mm or 90mm.

Overall, the Z-10 is considered to be in the same attack class as the Eurocopter Tiger and Denel Rooivalk systems in Europe and South Africa, respectively. It first flew on April 29, 2003, and entered service in December 2010. Currently (2013) about 60 are considered operational or on order.

For years, China has refused foreign support for their Z-10 design, although it was revealed in March 2013 that the government had approached Kamov for design assistance in 1995. The program was dubbed "Project 941" during development, and the Chinese then took over and worked with it to produce the final Z-10.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes