China’s New Heavy Attack Helicopter Spotted For The First Time (Updated)

The War Zone ^ | MAR 21, 2024 6:54 PM EDT | THOMAS NEWDICK

[Red Badger]

he latest offering in China’s seemingly unrelenting military aircraft output appears to be a heavy attack helicopter design, broadly similar in concept to the U.S. AH-64 Apache and seemingly developed from the Z-20 multirole utility transport helicopter that is widely known as China's H-60/S-70 Black Hawk clone. While the status of the program — which may be designated Z-21 — is unclear, the suggestion is that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) wants to rapidly field a heavier and more capable attack helicopter than those it currently operates.

Author's note: article updated with new profile view for the top shot. Details of what can be seen from this perspective can be read at the bottom of the article.

One of the first photos of the new attack helicopter rumored to be designated Z-21. Chinese internet Photos began to circulate on social media today showing the new attack helicopter flying, seen from below. Immediately apparent are the boxy ‘cheek’ fairings, as found on the AH-64D/E, which run from the nose to the tail boom. While its bulk is in stark contrast to the slender body of the Z-10, currently China’s standard attack helicopter, the fuselage of the new helicopter is still much slimmer than the Z-20 from which it is apparently derived. This is to conform to the typical tandem two-seat configuration found on most modern attack helicopters.

More at link.......................

The latest Chinese attack helicopter is an apparent counterpart to the AH-64 Apache, based on the multirole Z-20 Black Hawk clone.

[xoxox]

looks kinda familiar to me.

[z3n]

Knockoff apache?

Still reverse engineering everything I guess

[Semper Vigilantis]

Q: How does the CCP spell USA?

A: R&D

[Segovia]

How many Apaches did the Chinese buy from Afghanistan?

[desertsolitaire]

Can the chopper it is a knock off of, fly across the Taiwan Straits and back without refueling?

[rexthecat]

5,000 helicopters went down in Vietnam, due to hostile fire or mechanical failures. Drones are the future of warfare, not helicopters.

[gibsonguy]

Thank you Traitor Joe.

[verum ago]

Can the chopper it is a knock off of, fly across the Taiwan Straits and back without refueling?

Looking at some open source stuff:

If it's more like the AH-64 Apache it resembles:
-full combat load, internal fuel: raggedy edge of range, but probably no real dwell / combat time

Sacrifice one of the four ordnance pylons for a fuel tank: no sweat, and probably plenty of dwell time as well

If it's more like the UH-60 clone it was supposedly developed from:
-no problem at all on internal fuel

[desertsolitaire]

Thanks, was assuming one of it proposed missions would be the ability to support an attempted retake of Taiwan.

[oldplayer]

Traitor Joe? It was the Clinton crime syndicate, with help from the Bushs, that sent plans for all sorts of military hardware to China.

[verum ago]

Thanks, was assuming one of it proposed missions would be the ability to support an attempted retake of Taiwan.

I wouldn't be shocked if that were a boilerplate requirement for pretty much any ChiCom military hardware.

I wonder how effective they'd really be in that role, given how badly both Ukrainian and Russian helicopters have fared against the man-portable stuff (when operated by someone with more training than just your random jihadi).

[desertsolitaire]

I hear you. Still, to use the anti aircraft and anti tank weapons requires sufficient numbers of trained people and plenty of ammo.

[gibsonguy]

All 3 actually

[bitt]

p

[Sequoyah101]

Not subtle at all about just copying our aircraft are they? Smart does not just copy. They aren’t that smart.

[combat_boots]

Yup

[Vaduz]

Z-20 multirole utility transport helicopter that is widely known as China’s H-60/S-70 Black Hawk clone.

Anybody aske Biden about that?.

[SauronOfMordor]

Taiwan strait is only about 130 miles. With an external fuel tank it could do it.

You could also put boats with fuel in the middle of the strait and let it refuel by dangling a hose to the boat while it hovers.

[desertsolitaire]

Thanks. I’m assuming chicom fuel-laden boats that are sitting in the middle of thecstrait would be prime targets for the Taiwanese forces IF they have weapons capable of taking them out from shore batteries?