Z-9 utility helicopter - family & versions

Hey there. I just had some questions about the Z-9 and subsequent derivatives. I'll just get right to the point.

-How does the Z-9 compare to the Dauphin II? Is it a carbon copy or are there improvements?

-How does the Z-9 compare to other medium utility helicopters such as the American UH-60 and the Russian Kasatka?

-Does the PLA export the Z-9 to other countries other than civilian derivatives?

-Have the Z-9 and sister varients ever used in combat? (such as the Sino Vietnamise war?) If so, how did they fare?

-Will the Z-9 be phased out soon with the arival of new Attack and Utility helicopters?

Thanks in advance!

Hey there. I just had some questions about the Z-9 and subsequent derivatives. I'll just get right to the point.

-How does the Z-9 compare to the Dauphin II? Is it a carbon copy or are there improvements?

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The z-9 has two Turbomeca Arriel-II turboshaft engines, which provide more power and better performance in harsh weather conditions and high-altitude regions. The Z-9B features a modified fenestron with 11 wider-chord, all-composites tail blades instead of 13 all-metal blades as in AS 365N1The various z-9 derivatives obviously have improvements that let them suite their tasks. Z-9 H410A has two engines for higher altitude

-How does the Z-9 compare to other medium utility helicopters such as the American UH-60 and the Russian Kasatka?

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With a payload of 1900kg, i highly doubt the z-9 fairs even close to the uh-60 or kasakta's capabilities. I think the yh-60 can carry 4000+kg in internal and external stuff. Theres a reason why china's buying more mi-17s, as well as developing a new heli with the europeans.

-Does the PLA export the Z-9 to other countries other than civilian derivatives?

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z-9A to mali, 2000. 2 z-9s to mauritania, 2003. Im also hearing about a Laos deal too now.

-Have the Z-9 and sister varients ever used in combat? (such as the Sino Vietnamise war?) If so, how did they fare?

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No. The first dauphin II arrived in 1981, two years after the war.

-Will the Z-9 be phased out soon with the arival of new Attack and Utility helicopters?

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No duh. However, the PLA has developed multiple varients, such as recon and battlefield communications varients that wont be replaced till the next decade.

Just a note, Z-9EC got an export order of 6, so the naval version of Z-9 has been exported.

these are from the March edition of Kanwa. Since these are public domain figure and not hard to obtain, I will assume these are correct:
Z-9G is the most advanced variant of armoured Z-9 with night capability and Arriel-2C as the engine. AH-1W is Taiwan's most advanced helicopter.
Note, Taiwan has 300 AIM-9S AAM and 1000 AGM114C
Z-9G vs AH-1W
Max takeoff weight: 4100 KG vs 6690 KG
Max cruising speed: 254 vs 352
Normal cruising speed: 246 vs 278
Range: 664 vs 587
service ceiling: 4940 vs 5486
payload: 2064 vs (can someone help me here?)

Z-9G can carry 2 TY-90 AAM - same # of AAM as AH-1
and 8 ATGM - again same
so Z-9 is not the greatest platform, but the new engine has given it the ability to operate China's latest weapons at least.

Also, it was said that China imported 200 Arriel-2C engines for H-425. We can pretty much guess that a big chunk of that is going to Z-9G.
max payload: 2064 KG vs

The wz-9g has armor? where? is the glass bullet proof? is the metal paneling hardened?

The wz-9g can carry 4 ty-90s. The ty-90 has longer range(up to 6km), better anti-jamming, as well as better manuverability compared to the aim-9s. the ty-90 is lighter, so the wz-9g can outmanuver an ah-1 carrying the aim-9s.

The new wz-9g all weather varient has improved sensors and countermeasures. The only disadvantage is lack of a2g, which can be solved by making the wing larger to accomadate some 57.90mm rockets as well as hj-8

MIGleader said:

The wz-9g has armor? where? is the glass bullet proof? is the metal paneling hardened?

The wz-9g can carry 4 ty-90s. The ty-90 has longer range(up to 6km), better anti-jamming, as well as better manuverability compared to the aim-9s. the ty-90 is lighter, so the wz-9g can outmanuver an ah-1 carrying the aim-9s.

The new wz-9g all weather varient has improved sensors and countermeasures. The only disadvantage is lack of a2g, which can be solved by making the wing larger to accomadate some 57.90mm rockets as well as hj-8

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oh, I just assumed that they would have hardened Z-9G compared to the original Z-9. Of course, the protection would not be the same as that of WZ-10. It can carry 4 ty-90? hmm, huitong's page says that too. Stupid kanwa. Yeah, there was an article back on the improvement made to Z-9G sensors and such. Too lazy to translate it.

range 664?

I thought Z-9 has a range of 1000km (sinodefence).
Got a site on Z-9G?

it depends. We still dont know if the wz-9g has any armor to add weight.
With no weapons loaded, the range is probably greater than that of the z-9, due to its more powerful Wozhou-8A turbo shaft. It can also carry 180 liters of fuel in an aux fuel tank.

Why though? Does an attack helicopter ever need to cruise over 1000km? I doubt it. But at least they can fly across the strait.

Speaking of KA-60, I wonder why China didn't acquire KA-60 or KA-60 related technology. KA-60 seems quite a capable aircraft. It is probably more expensive than the robust Mi-17, but with large imports of Mi-17, I wonder why China didn't opt to buy KA-60s (although understandably, it would add another chopper onto the logistics list). But what China lacks now is a high technology platform, while the KA-60 is most readily available design, and in some areas outperforms Lynx, Panther and Blackhawk.

In some ways though, the Chinese helicopter fleet is quite modern compared to other air forces. Such as air forces that still mostly rely on the UH-1 series, of which the Z-9 and even the now retired Z-5 outperforms.

There just aren't enough helicopters in service. Rough estimates probably only 400-500 helicopters at most of all types.

It would be nice to see 300 Z-9A/Bs, 150 Z9W/Gs, 150 Z-10Ws, 300 Mi-17s, and 150 Z-10/15s. This would give 1050 relatively modern helicopters of all types.

tphuang said:

payload: 2064 vs (can someone help me here?)

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1119 kg . are you including fuel or not? with the fuel it's 2065 kg.

why does WZ-9G has four doors other than the two doors for the pilots? could it be used for low-capacity troop transport like the mi-24?