Engineer
Major
You should have your fact checked because Z-10 and Z-20 are both indigenous designs.
Z-20 (all variants) thread
- Thread starter delft
- Start date
vesicles
Colonel
Isn't the Z-10 indigenous design?
There are some indications that Kamov was consulted in the initial stages of Project 10, but the exact details of said consultation and the workload distribution is unclear.
And in any case it is hardly relevant, for certain given roles there are only so many possible shapes, there's a reason why all the major medium and heavy attack helos share similar configurations.
PS Arguably Z-19 is also an indigenous design. Z-18 is also a highly updated design.
Then too there is the legions of Chinese rotor UAVs, which boast a plethora of designs - though being of significantly lower weight of course there isn't quite so much penalty with designs departing from the norm.
And in any case it is hardly relevant, for certain given roles there are only so many possible shapes, there's a reason why all the major medium and heavy attack helos share similar configurations.
PS Arguably Z-19 is also an indigenous design. Z-18 is also a highly updated design.
Then too there is the legions of Chinese rotor UAVs, which boast a plethora of designs - though being of significantly lower weight of course there isn't quite so much penalty with designs departing from the norm.
According Chief Designer of Kamov design bureau , Kamov in 1995-96 developed a preliminary design of future Z-10 under a contract with the China.
The Project 941 design was not based on any Soviet-era attack helicopter project and was strictly designed for China's unique requirements, Mikheev says. "They gave us the desired weight, we discussed preliminary performance parameters, then we signed a contract and we fulfilled the contract," he says.
After Kamov completed the design, the Russian design bureau verified the design via testing. Kamov then delivered the design to China and the Project 941 concept was accepted by that country's government for further development, he says. Kamov did not participate in any further developmental work on the WZ-10, he insists.
The Project 941 design was not based on any Soviet-era attack helicopter project and was strictly designed for China's unique requirements, Mikheev says. "They gave us the desired weight, we discussed preliminary performance parameters, then we signed a contract and we fulfilled the contract," he says.
After Kamov completed the design, the Russian design bureau verified the design via testing. Kamov then delivered the design to China and the Project 941 concept was accepted by that country's government for further development, he says. Kamov did not participate in any further developmental work on the WZ-10, he insists.
Depending on your point of view, but I would say Z-10 should be counted as an indigenous design. Getting foreign help does not take that away.
Aside from that, why does it matter if it's an indigenous design as long as the helicopter is advanced and fits PLA requirements?
MwRYum
Major
To be fair, it's something of a common stigma that all upstarts have to suffer at one point or the other, be it Germany, the US, or Japan...and now China's turn.
Problem with Z-20 now is more about the level of secrecy over it, as far as utility helicopter projects concern, similar level as Y-20 should be enough...
Skywatcher
Captain
Oh, for crying out loud!
The only thing the Z-20 shares in common with the Blackhawk is the forward fuselage and nose! The rotor, tail rotor, engines and transmission are completely different.
The only thing the Z-20 shares in common with the Blackhawk is the forward fuselage and nose! The rotor, tail rotor, engines and transmission are completely different.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Not even. They share a common look but beyond looks based on the materials and modifications They likely have little in Common beyond Silhouet and mission aims.
My point is that people are too sensitive about this idea of copying. It seems like most of the existing Chinese projects in helicopter are taking a current design, changing fuselage somewhat, developing new generation of rotor, using a new domestic engine and transmission. Now, you have a newer and much more capable helicopter. That's something that fighter jet projects really don't have the luxury to do. Some people would call it copying because it looks similar in pictures, but I wouldn't because how much development work and RnD had to get it into production. Either way, it's all produced, supported and can be upgraded in China. What difference does it make where the original inspiration comes from?