WZ-10 thread

[planeman]

That looks more like a Mangusta to me. It's hard to say but the tail rotor appears to be on the wrong side of the fin and the landing gear is inconsistant with other credible WZ-10 images.

[adeptitus]

This discussion is for the Sinodefense WZ-10 page:
http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/helicopter/wz10.asp

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On Global Security, they have quite a bit of info on the WZ-10's (speculated?) specs and systems:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...hina/wz-10.htm

WZ-10 Attack Helicopter

The PLA Army Aviation lacks an attack helicopter such as the AH-64 Apache or Mi-28 Havoc. The limited attack helicopter force consists of 30-40 WZ-9s and 8 SA-342L Gazelles, along with 60 Mi-17 Hips with unguided rocket launchers.

The primary mission for the treetop hugging WZ-10 is battlefield interdiction, eliminating the enemy ground fixed and mobile forces, and concurrently certain air combat ability.

Development of a dedicated attack helicopter began in the mid-1990s at the 602 Institute and Changhe Aircraft Industry Company (CHAIC) in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. The new WZ-10 (Wuzhuang Zhisheng-10) is apparently similar to the South African Rooviak and Italian Agusta A129. The design uses the power plant and transmission derived from the Harbin Z-9, with the fuselage modified to accommodate two pilots.

The helicopter can carry up to 8 ATGMs, or IR-guided short-range AAMs. Although the helicopter might still not be as capable as the U.S. AH-64 Apache, it will probably play a significant role in Army Aviation modernisation and force compabilities.

According to another report, the PLA orignally selected the the MI-35 but chose the Rranco-German Tiger as the source of emulation. Around 1991-92 the PLA leased a single Pakistani AH-1 for technical evaluation.

Future upgrades to the WZ-10 will include sensor package carried on the Z-11 light helicopter that will improve target acquisition. The WZ-10 is equipped with FLIR thus allowing an operations in all weather.

The helicopter's net weight is approximately 5,543 kilograms. The helicopter approximate length is 14.15 meters, is 3.84 meters high, and is roughly 4.25 meters at its widest point.

The WZ-10 is believed to be equipped with flight transmission system from the Z-9. The main rotar consists of 4 blades made up of a compound material. The diameter of the blades is approximately 12 meters length. The WZ-10 has a non-traditional design that uses composite and radar absorbant materials.

The WZ-10 is believed to have two European MTR 390 turboshafts, though concrete information on the system is not entirely clear. The navigation and avionics are probably from domestic sources. The navigation system consists of radioaltimeter, doppler radar and GPS.

Reports indicate that the WZ-10 has an optics system that relays sensor information to the pilots helmets; essentially a system similar to the US Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS). The helmet system also controls the direction that the machine gun is aiming. This allows the pilots to have an improved situation awareness as they can monitor flight systems and observe the terrain.

Two wings along the fuselage that are roughly 4.32 meters long may carry 1,500 kilograms of munitions, including a 57.0 mm multibarrel rockets, the red arrow anti-tank missile. A 23 mm machine gun is fixed to the cabin at the front of the helicopter.

The fire control system is similar to the French Starry Night digital integration design.

The cabin's bulletproof glass may resist 7.62 millimeter ammunition and composite armor under the cabin resists 12.7 millimeters machine gun fires. The cabin is equipped to maximize fire protection and thw WZ-10 is also outfitted with ejection seats similar to the Ka-50.

The WZ-10 is also equipped with radar warning systems and with systems that will alert the crew that it has been targetted with laser range finders. The helicopter is also equipped with passive countermeasures and in an effort to reduce fratricide is equipped with IFF.

Future upgrades to the WZ-10A will likely include new a radar, fire control systems, infrared exhaust suppression and the ability to be flown from naval vessels.

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How much of their info do you think is credible?

[Deino]

Here the latest picture of the WZ-10 ... just found at CMF !!

[Gollevainen]

I think even the biggest unbelivers (me ) can now swallow it...

WZ-10, welcome

[Totoro]

Yup, i'll also say that out of all the alleged wz10 pics out there, this one is by far most credible looking. Not only is quality high enough to make it rather difficult for it to be a PS job (though thats never 100%) but some of its features are now distinctly seen, ruling out the possiblity it's some other chopper being used instead of wz10.

Having said that, i must say it's looking pretty good from outside, and given the right avionics/weapons, it might be quite comparable to Tiger.

[Diving Falcon]

With the kind of advancements China has made on the J-10 and JF-17's avionics, I'm sure as hell the WZ-10 is going to have an awesome avionics suite. China is developing a guided anti-tank missile as well, isn't it?

[planeman]

Great, this latest pic is entirely consistent with the previous two most-credible ones:
http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/atta...6&d=1141411623
http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/atta...7&d=1141411623


And my artist’s impression was very close (Whoopee for me!):

[renmin]

It looks just like the first "real" pictures of the WZ-10. I guess it is safe to assume this is it. It looks like a tiger with the nose of a Apache.

[bd popeye]

Afterall the PS pics of the Wz-10 finally, now like Golly, I'm convinced.

Now does anyone know about the procurment process? Just how many will be delivered to the PLA forces? Is there a navalized version?

Fianlly congradulations to the PRC for producing the "real deal"

[KYli]

I never doubt for a minute for the existence of WZ10.

Most of the sources in the internet are suggesting, there are at least six WZ10 in trial. And there is no navalized version of WZ10 yet, maybe they would develop it later.

[renmin]

I know this is a bit off topic but did you guys realize that the real WZ10 looks nothing like the WZ10 in Battlefield 2?

Oh well, you can't always be accurate.

[Gollevainen]

I never doubt for a minute for the existence of WZ10

neither did I, but i sure did doupt most of the pics labeld "WZ-10". The most covincing proof to me is that this new pic and the two others (one with the J-11 alongside) are all about the same plane...

[Roger604]

[ Bows down and kowtow to the ground ]

Does anybody know.....

1) is WZ-10 supposed to be primarily ground attack?

2) can it carry PGM's?

3) can it act as radar platform for ground installations?

[planeman]

Originally Posted by Roger604

[ Bows down and kowtow to the ground ]

Does anybody know.....

1) is WZ-10 supposed to be primarily ground attack?

2) can it carry PGM's?

3) can it act as radar platform for ground installations?

1) Yes, almost certainly its an anti-vehicle ("anti-tank") helicopter with a close support role and probably a limited anti-helicopter and anti-UAV (tactical ones, not things like Predator) using light IR guided missiles.

2) Not in the sense of a bomber but technically it's guided anti-tank missiles are PGMs.

3) almost certainly no. It could be modified for that type of role but bigger helicopters with more crew would be a more obvious choice.

[tphuang]

lol, this picture has been all over the Chinese forums recently. I guess given the clarity of the photo, China is finally declassifying this project. Nice!

This other photo was also recently released recently on CCTV. It's not a real photo, but another evidence that China is declassifying the project.

- note, this image may not show up.

According to Huitong, there were 8 prototypes of this plane by the end of 2004. Sinodefence on claimed 6. Let's just say up to 10 prototypes for this helicopter. Not too unexpected for a project of this importance. As for procurement numbers. I will go back to the Kanwa report that 10 P&W engine has already been imported for WZ-10 (each WZ-10 requires 2 engine) and another 50 is getting imported. So, I'm guessing an initial product run of 20 WZ-10.

Here is the article.