Z-19 armed recon helicopter
- Thread starter vesicles
- Start date
- Status
Z-10's engines (WZ-9) originally had a 1,000 kW power, which aren't sufficient enough. However, later batches of Z-10 are equipped with a modified version of WZ-9 which reportedly generates around 1,150 to 1,200 kW of power, and that allows Z-10 to be finally capable to operate in the plateau regions of western China.
Another possible reason is lack of designs or production of helicopter missiles for that particular type.
Typically aircraft weapons are too large and heavy for attack helicopters and infantry derived weapons are too weak.
You need to develop helicopter specific weapons. Typically when an helicopter is designed it is done so together with a weapon system. Typically some sort of anti-tank missile. This was the case for the Eurocopter Tiger, the AH-64 Apache, the Kamov KA-50 helicopter, and many others. Perhaps the light helicopters can share weapons with, say, drones, but for the larger helicopter such weapons are too weak.
Typically aircraft weapons are too large and heavy for attack helicopters and infantry derived weapons are too weak.
You need to develop helicopter specific weapons. Typically when an helicopter is designed it is done so together with a weapon system. Typically some sort of anti-tank missile. This was the case for the Eurocopter Tiger, the AH-64 Apache, the Kamov KA-50 helicopter, and many others. Perhaps the light helicopters can share weapons with, say, drones, but for the larger helicopter such weapons are too weak.
plawolf
Lieutenant General
The difference is armour weight. The Z10 has armour, while the Z19 probably has no or minimal armour.
This can be seen in the lack of a gun for the Z19, because it’s not suppose to get close enough to the action to be able to use one.
The Z19 is your typical light scout and attack helicopter designed to be fast and agile and take shots of opportunity from long range and run.
The Z10 is supposed to be able to stay on station to press home the attack and support ground forces. It doesn’t have the heavy armour of the likes of the AH64 or Ka50 or Mi28, but it’s armour should be able to stand up to common infantry calibers at a minimum, and may even be able to take a few hits of heavier weapons like 50 cal or 14.7. But it won’t be able to withstand 20 or 30mm hits like the heavy attack helicopters could.
This can be seen in the lack of a gun for the Z19, because it’s not suppose to get close enough to the action to be able to use one.
The Z19 is your typical light scout and attack helicopter designed to be fast and agile and take shots of opportunity from long range and run.
The Z10 is supposed to be able to stay on station to press home the attack and support ground forces. It doesn’t have the heavy armour of the likes of the AH64 or Ka50 or Mi28, but it’s armour should be able to stand up to common infantry calibers at a minimum, and may even be able to take a few hits of heavier weapons like 50 cal or 14.7. But it won’t be able to withstand 20 or 30mm hits like the heavy attack helicopters could.
Off topic real quick but I heard rumors of China making a new heavy attack helicopter? Would that fit the role better than the Z-10?
It is likely China will eventually develop a new family of attack helicopters based on rigid rotor technology or something like that.
Those might have higher speed and more payload but it is still to early to tell.
I think you will see further upgrades of existing platforms with improved engines and weapon systems before that.
Those might have higher speed and more payload but it is still to early to tell.
I think you will see further upgrades of existing platforms with improved engines and weapon systems before that.
Z-19 with two types of mast-mounted MMW radars.
The flat hockey puck:
The more bulbous radome:
I slowly get the feeling that this MMR is not yet in full service and is still being in evaluation within the 71st LH-Brigade since you only see these two Z-19A with different radars.
I'd agree with you Deano. They're two adjacent tail numbers - 991556 (flat radar ) and 991566 (bulbous radar - photo above from by78). Though there is a 3rd - 953522 with the bulbous radar also .
- Status