Posted on 10/06/2007 10:13:30 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Analysis: China illegally uses Canadian engine for combat helicopter
HONG KONG, Oct. 5
ANDREI CHANG
Column: Military Might
China has officially released the photo of a mysterious Z-10 combat helicopter that was indigenously developed over a 15-year period. An official brochure on the helicopter shows that the Z-10 uses a PT6C-67C engine imported from Pratt &Whitney Canada.
Although some Western military observers had suspected that China might be attempting to use the PT6C-67C for its Z-10, this official announcement still comes as a surprise. As a military embargo against Beijing has been in place since the 1989 Tiananmen incident, this Canadian engine case may make Washington call for a tighter policy, especially regarding NATO countries.
A source from the P&W said the company did not know anything about the Z-10, claiming that the Chinese purchased its products only for use in civilian helicopters, according to the contract. Those engines were supposed to be used for the development of new 6-ton civilian helicopters and the assembly of AB-139 civilian helicopters. This indicates that China has illegally changed the purpose of the engines from a civilian to a military use.
Western military observers say that China could have manufactured more than eight Z-10s so far. The third one has just completed test flights. China has a plan to purchase more engines, allegedly for the development of new civilian 6-ton helicopters, which will allow them to build at least another seven Z-10s from now.
It is not known yet whether future Z-10s will be manufactured in large batches or will continue to use this imported engine. China may switch to an indigenously developed new engine or an upgraded version of the WZ-9 engine for mass production.
Who else has helped China to develop its Z-10 combat helicopter? An authoritative source from the South African Denel Company said that before 2001, Chinese representatives paid frequent visits to the company. They also invited company staff to visit the Chinese cities of Changhe and Harbin. The Chinese visitors were from the army, the air force and various military industrial enterprises.
"Every time, they requested to look at our Rooivalk combat helicopter. They took away all possible technical materials and took a large number of photos as well as videotapes," the source said. "They also asked so many questions. Their exchanges with us focused on the flight stability and performance features of airborne cannons. We learned from this that the Chinese were experiencing technical difficulties in the design of the Z-10, especially its maneuverability."
In 2001, the Chinese abruptly proposed to purchase one Rooivalk, but the company refused to sell it. "If they needed, they could have paid for formal technical consultation fees," the source said. "Why did they propose to buy only one helicopter? Wasn't it obvious that they intended to thoroughly study the structure of the Rooivalk? We rejected the proposal. After 2001, they never come back to us again."
Where did the Chinese go after 2001? With this question, the author visited Eurocopter Company, where a senior company official claimed, "We can say in a responsible manner that we did not have any contact with the Chinese on the design of the Z-10. The Chinese did not ask us to get involved in the project, and it would have been impossible for us to do so."
The author also visited AgustaWestland Italy. After persistent questioning, a company source acknowledged that they were involved in part of the Z-10 project, but did not reveal any details. In recent years, AgustaWestland has been considered China's closest partner among Western helicopter production enterprises. The two sides have even established a joint venture.
Under cover of jointly producing civilian helicopters, AgustaWestland has very likely given China technical information on the basic redesign of the Z-10. Accordingly, some of the configuration of the Z-10 is very close to AgustaWestland's A-129 combat helicopter. As for the weapon systems on the Z-10, most of them were manufactured in China, including the new HJ-10 anti tank missile and TY-90 air-to-air missile.
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(Andrei Chang is editor-in-chief of Kanwa Defense Review, based in Hong Kong.)
I am shocked that Wal-Mart’s communist allies have lied about their intended useage of a helicopter engine. Have the communists ever lied before?
Gotta love that free trade.
The feigned naivete expressed in this article is so disingenuous, I almost thought it was Scrappleface.
China - run by unscrupulous, thieving, murdering, lowlife, scumbag communist bastards.
Mark my words - soon they will be exporting ground-up political prisoners as “Pork meat.”
I take it that , other than that , you are confident our diplomacy and trade policies are satisfactory .
I can understand the reluctance of Chinese soldiers to fly in a helicopter with a Chinese made engine.
China’s economy is a pirate economy.
I fired my gardeners and got a manual push mower. Now can anyone recommend a good all-American made lawn mower to replace the Chinese one I bought when it craps out?
Both the dorks at Pratt and Whitney and the government ding-dongs who approve the export of multi-use technology have got to employ some real retards.
Like China has never lied in the past...
Yes, they are.
U.S. carrier help? (Admiral offers help to China)
Adm. Tim Keating, the U.S. Pacific Command leader, told reporters during his visit to China last month that while building and operating a carrier battle group is complex, the United States is willing to help.
"We would, if they choose to develop [an aircraft-carrier program], help them to the degree that they seek and the degree that we're capable, in developing their programs," Adm. Keating said.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1845931/posts
U.S. may share missile info with China
WASHINGTON, June 4 (UPI) -- The United States would "seriously" consider sharing technology and missile warning intelligence with China, (Secretary of Defense Gates) the U.S. defense chief said Sunday.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1846099/posts
Soon?
I thought that design looked familiar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_Tiger
and apparently it is no coincidence:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WZ-10
From the History section entry, it appears that Eurocopter is a consultant to the WZ-10 attack helicopter program. Some consultancy; it looks more like a licanse built copy to me.
Grrrrrrrrr. Not sure who to be mad at : the Chinese for building up their forces to be more of a threat to the United States and its Asian allies or the Europeans.
Try Snapper.
The Man Who Said No To Wal-Mart
Cheers!
They now have 7 copies of a Tiger. Soon, they may have 10 copies of a Tiger.
10 attack helos do not an Army make.
I walked behind a ‘Big Wheel’ Yazoo (a knock of a Snapper) for all my teen years. My dad finally bought a riding mower once I left home. He retired the Yazoo after 20+ years of service.
Could it be in China that’s a ‘civilan’ chopper?
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