Why doesn't PLA Reverse-Engineer the S-70 Black Hawk

That's something had just come into my mind. As we all know, the Black Hawks are the workhorse for the US military, and it is very versatile for various roles. Since the PLA have the Black Hawks, why didn't they reverse-engineer it and produce their own fleet for their own uses?

Re: Why don't PLA Reverse-Engineer the S-70 Black Hawk

airsuperiority said:

That's something had just come into my mind. As we all know, the Black Hawks are the workhorse for the US military, and it is very versatile for various roles. Since the PLA have the Black Hawks, why didn't they reverse-engineer it and produce their own fleet for their own uses?

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Various articles indicated that they've tried but the S-70/UH-60 is beyond the level that the Chinese aviation sector can replicate. Besides, all their samples were assigned to the highland ops, something that only the S-70 could perform until China purchased Mi-17 to fill the role.

Re: Why don't PLA Reverse-Engineer the S-70 Black Hawk

If reverse-engineering is that easy, the PLA would have a lot more helicopters, as well as turboshaft and turbofan engines than they do now. It's not like they can't get their hands on many imported products.

I think it comes down to the fact that when you don't already have the level of manufacturing technologies required to build a S-70, reverse-engineering won't allow you to make your own copies. When you do have the technology to build a similar aircraft, it is better and easier to design your own than making identical copies of a foreign product (doesn't mean you can't take some design hints from existing products) . This way you can better tailor your product to the mission requirements of your customers. You will also have a more balanced design that take advantage on the technologies you do well and minimize weaknesses in areas you don't do well. The result is a better overall product and greater development potential in the long run.

Helicopters, far more than any other aircraft, are all about the engines, and engines has been the biggest achilles heel of Chinese aviation for decades now.

If you can make GE T700 class engines, what shell you wrap around it would have relatively little impact on overall performance, OTOH, if you put crappy engines in an S70 shell, it won't perform anything like an S70 even though it has the same exact external shell as real Blackhawks.

Re: Why don't PLA Reverse-Engineer the S-70 Black Hawk

MwRYum said:

Various articles indicated that they've tried but the S-70/UH-60 is beyond the level that the Chinese aviation sector can replicate. Besides, all their samples were assigned to the highland ops, something that only the S-70 could perform until China purchased Mi-17 to fill the role.

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Huitong mentioned on his website a while ago:

Recent images indicate some S-70C-2s have been upgraded with a Chinese IFF antenna on the nose as well as a pair of communication antennas on top of and beneath the boom. There were reports that China obtained the much needed spare parts from US for the purpose of "humanitarian missions" but this has not been confirmed. It now appears that CHAIC is capable of overhauling the helicopter in addition to manufacturing most of the parts. Consequently it was rumored that CHAIC is trying to reverse-engineer the Black Hawk design as Z-20 (?).

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Like some of you said, I am not sure if there's a suitable domestic engine though.

Perhabs this engine will help the WZ-16 turboshaft engine developed jointly with Eurocopter. Set for mass production in 2014.

airsuperiority said:

That's something had just come into my mind. As we all know, the Black Hawks are the workhorse for the US military, and it is very versatile for various roles. Since the PLA have the Black Hawks, why didn't they reverse-engineer it and produce their own fleet for their own uses?

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They opted to import Mi-17 & local production.

Another Factor is That China would Suffer no End too the Political and financial backlash from producing a unlicensed clone of an American design. This is not the early Cold war And China is not Stalin's Russia Simply copying an american air frame would not work form a number perspectives.
First Technical'
They would have too copy the engines the Software every detail. On Top of which the Black Hawk in american Use have a lot of equipment made for them that allow there Adaptability
Second international relation
A Quick way too Sour relations is too blatantly violate international intellectual property. China already has issues in this but something that bold could cut relations
Third Export
china aims a lot of here products too sale now a unlicensed copy like that would start a trade war
China is Aiming for a Brand name. They want too look good too stand as a Super power. as such They want too make products in terms of Arms that are China Brand. As such they want too build stuff for both the PLA and there buyers so simply coping the Black hawk would cause issues. One they know The US could lower the price of the UH60 too kill export. two The UH60 is actually fairly old and The US is looking too replace it so that could mean a bumb in replacement making there SinoHawk dated.
Finally National Pride you can't China Brand over Made in the USA. So They instead partner with Eurocopter licence some designs and help design others with the aim of making a china Brand, a product they can sell on there own and can be made too meet there own unique needs. hence In my Opinion the EC175 aka Z15 Aim a medium weight Transport helo. China's Aim too produce there counter too the BlackHawk

adeptitus said:

They opted to import Mi-17 & local production.

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Mi-17 bigger capacity and with even a back ramp makes it more popular for PLA aircorps?

I remember seeing a mini mobile vehicles loaded with few troops unload from the back ramp of Mi-17 in a mock assault PLA exercise few years ago.

Black hawk will be impossible to do that.