WZ-9 PLA Attack Helicopter

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. The latest armed version, the Z-9W, was introduced in 2005 and has night attack capabilities, with an under-nose low-light Television and infrared observing and tracking unit. Z-9W was China's first anti-armor attack helicopter that turn into operational with PLA Army. It can be armed With HJ-8A wire-guided ATGMs, or 57mm/90mm rocket pods, or 23mm cannons, or TY-90 IR-guided AAMs.

Harbin Aircraft Manufacture Corporation (HAMC) started to develop an attack variant of its Zhi-9 (Z-9) utility helicopter in the mid-1980s. The prototype was only intended for anti-armor role, carrying a roof-mounted optical sight unit and four HJ-8 anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) under the weapon pylons.

This variant first flew in 1987 and live test fire of the missile from the helicopter took place in 1989. The formal production variant introduced in the early 1990s incorporated using a range of armaments, such as 23mm cannon, 12.7mm machine gun pod, 57/90mm unguided rocket pod, and also TY-90 IR-homing short-range air-to-air missile.

Several dozens of the Z-9W attack helicopters were delivered into the PLA Army Aviation Corps 8th Army Aviation Group (Regiment) subordinated to 38th Group Army in Beijing Military area in the mid-1990s. as a result of the PLA's decision to give high priority into the Army Aviation Corps in its modernisation program, much more units have received the Z-9W after 2000. The total wide range of these helicopter fielded by the PLA is estimated to be 30~40.

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WZ-10 Army Combat Helicopter

The primary mission for WZ-10 is battlefield interdiction, eliminating the enemy ground fastened|mounted and mobile forces, and concurrently certain air combat ability. The WZ-10 is mostly almost like the South African Rooviak and Italian Agusta A129. The PLA Army Aviation long lacked an attack helicopter such as the AH-64 Apache or Mi-28 Havoc.

The Z-10 helicopter has a gunship configuration with a slim fuselage and stepped tandem cockpits. Gunner is seated at the front and the pilot is at the rear. The fuselage has sloped sides to reduce radar cross section. All important areas are believed to be protected by armor plates.

Weapons of the Z-10 may consist of 30-mm cannon, HJ-9 anti-tank guided missiles (comparable to the TOW-2A), newly developed HJ-10 anti-tank missiles (comparable to the AGM-114 Hellfire) and TY-90 air-to-air missiles. It also can carry unoperated rocket pods.

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WZ-19 Chinese Army Attack Helicopter

The new Chinese Army Aviation WZ-19 attack helicopters are mainly used to attack tanks and different significant targets. The new Harbin/AVIC WZ-19 attack helicopter is predicated on the Z-9W anti-armor attack helicopter, which it self was derived from the license-built AS-365N. The WZ-19 used the engines (WoZhou WZ8A?), rotor, aft fuselage and tail section (including Fenestron tailrotor) with minor modifications from H425 [one of the recent upgraded variants of the Z-9] swhich accelerates the development. not like the the Z-9W, which} was primarily an wide-body armed utility helicopter, the WZ-19 features a new slim forwarded fuselage with tandem compact layout similar to that of the opposite gunship helicopters like Z-10, TAI/Agusta Westland T-129, AH-1Z Viper, AH-64 Apache, Eurocopter Tiger, Mil Mi-28 and HAL lightweight Combat Helicopter.

The WZ-19 features a slim forward fuselage and a tandem cockpit layout similar to those of Z-10, however with reversed seating - the pilot sitting in the front seat and gunner in the back seat. each crew are protected by armor plates, crash-resist seats and non-retractable front landing gears. It also features a Z-9WA style nose mounted EO turret (FLIR, TV and laser range finder), with armament consisting of on 30mm canon in chin turret. The helicopter also can carry the air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon package similar to that of Z-9WA below a pair of stub wings, together with KD-8 ATGMs, PL-90 AAMs as well as 23mm gun pods and rocket lanchers.

The WZ-19 helicopter has a toke off weight of 4,500kg, empty weight 2,350kg, max cruising speed 245km/h [about 150 mph], max climb rate 9m/s [over 1,500 ft/minute], range 700km [450 miles], ceiling (out of ground effect) 2,400m, endurance of over 3hours. The exhaust ports help reduce the employment of the infrared signal design.

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