Китайский ударный вертолёт Чанхэ Z-10: разработка и применение

Chinese attack helicopter

The Changhe Z 10 (直 10, "helicopter 10") is a Chinese medium attack helicopter developed for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. It is designed primarily for anti tank warfare missions but has secondary air to air combat capability as well. Initiated by chief designer Wu Ximing, the project had early Russian involvement with Kamov Design Bureau of Russia under a contract with the Chinese government, but the collaboration was abruptly stopped due to fundamental design philosophy disagreements. The Chinese designers and their customer, the PLA General Armaments Department, preferred a lighter weight, more agile airframe with less emphasis on armor. The helicopter was further developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) and is locally manufactured. In September 2016, the PLA announced that all of its army aviation units had been equipped with the Z 10.

In 1979, the Chinese military studied the problem of countering large armour formations. It concluded that the best conventional solution was to use attack helicopters. Eight Aérospatiale Gazelle armed with Euromissile HOT were procured for evaluation. By the mid 1980s, the Chinese decided a dedicated attack helicopter was required. At the time, they used civilian helicopters converted for the military; these were no longer adequate in the attack role, and suitable only as scouts. Following this, China evaluated the Agusta A129 Mangusta, and in 1988 secured an agreement with the United States to purchase AH 1 Cobras and a license to produce BGM 71 TOW missiles; the latter was cancelled following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre and the resulting arms embargo. The colour revolutions prevented the purchase of attack helicopters from Eastern Europe in 1990 and 1991; Bulgaria and Russia rejected Chinese offers to purchase the Mil Mi 24. While attempting to import foreign designs failed, war games determined that attack helicopters had to be commanded by the army, rather than the air force. This led to the formation of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force Air Force (PLAGFAF), with an initial strength of 9 Harbin Z 9. The PLAGFAF conducted tactical experiments that would help define the future Z 10's requirements. Research also decided that anti tank missiles like the BGM 71 TOW were inadequate, and favoured an analogue to the AGM 114 Hellfire. These findings ensured the Z 10 would be based around the new missile.

The Gulf War highlighted the urgent need for attack helicopters, and revalidated the assessment that a purpose built design was needed. At the time, the Chinese military depended on armed utility helicopters such as the Changhe Z 11 and Harbin Z 9. Also, it demonstrated that the new attack helicopter would need to be able to defend itself against other helicopters and aircraft. The military perceived that once the new attack helicopter entered service, the existing helicopters would be used as scouts. The Attack Helicopter Developmental Work Team (武装直升机开发工作小组) was formed to develop a new medium helicopter design, as opposed to basing the new design on the light helicopters then in service. The 602nd and 608th Research Institutes started development of the 6 ton class China Medium Helicopter (CHM) program in 1994. A secret contract was signed with the Kamov Design Bureau of Russia to design and verify the helicopter airframe and propulsion. The Chinese concentrated on areas where it could not obtain foreign help.

Pratt & Whitney, alongside Hamilton Sundstrand divisions of the United Technologies Corporation, unlawfully transported and provided US military technology into this program. In an effort to maintain profits, they conspired to cover up these facts. They were found guilty of these charges in June 2012. Several of the charges were deferred adjudications. In 1998, the 602nd Research Institute proposed to either separate the armed helicopter program from the medium helicopter program, or devote all resources to the armed helicopter program. The 602nd Research Institute called its proposed armed helicopter design the Z 10 As a result, most of the resources went to the Z 10, although the medium helicopter program continued with reduced priority; the medium helicopter could continue to develop technology used by both military and civilian aircraft. The Z 10 program was called the Special Armed Project (专武工程), a short form for Special Use Armed Helicopter Project (专用武装直升机工程). Development was kept under stricter secrecy than the Chengdu J 10 fighter. Nearly ¥ 4 billion was initially invested and the Z 10 became one of the most important programs begun in the 9th 5 yr plan. Publicly, the 602nd Research Institute was assigned as the chief designer to promote the illusion of it being a domestically developed attack helicopter, while Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) of China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) was assigned as the primary manufacturer. Nearly four dozen other establishments participated in the program. In the summer of 1999, AVIC II began to use a CAMC Z 8 to test newly developed Z 10 sub systems. In autumn of the same year, a Harbin Z 9 was added to the test aircraft inventory. These tests concentrated on sub systems such as the fire control systems, HOTAS controls, and navigation systems. South African arms manufacturer Denel provided technical assistance to the project in the area of flight stability, based on experience from designing the Denel Rooivalk.

The Kamov design bureau was contracted to perform the development work under a secret contract. Kamov worked with the Chinese to establish base specifications, such as weight, speed, and payload capacity, after which they had full freedom to design the helicopter. Kamov designed, tested, and verified an early stage of helicopter design, after which it was provided to the Chinese team and was substantially modified. Although the earliest stage of the design was made in Russia, the prototype construction, flight testing, and further development was performed by the Chinese.

One of the two primary fire control systems (FCS) is the electro optical (optronics) system, which utilizes experience gained from earlier manufacturing of similar French and Israeli systems, combining the best of the two, but only hardware wise. The software is completely indigenously developed by China. The optronics FCS is manufactured by the 218th Factory of China North Industries Group Corp, later reformed as China North Industries Group Corporation Electro Opticals Science & Technology Ltd. (中兵光电科技股份有限公司.)

In addition to the millimeter wave fire control radar and optronic FCS, the pilot of the Z 10 has another FCS, the helmet mounted sight (HMS) designed by the 613th Research Institute. The HMS is standard for the Z 10. The HMS is based on the earlier HMS used on the Z 9W, which was first shown at the 5th Zhuhai Airshow held in 2004. At the 7th Zhuhai Airshow held in 2008, the developer confirmed that the HMS is fully integrated into the FCS and the onboard navigational systems. Additionally, helmet mounted displays (HMDs) were developed for the Z 10, similar to the Honeywell M142 Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS) used on the AH 64 Apache. The developer confirmed that the HMD is not standard as it is incompatible with the NVGs, the two cannot be simultaneously equipped. It is unclear whether the NVG is standard; however, the developer has claimed that the helmet and HMS are fully compatible with NVGs. Images released by official government sources have shown that the Z 10 uses binocular form NVGs (as well as other helicopters in Chinese service). The canopy of the cockpit is specially treated to prevent glare from the sun, and, as an additional option, a tanned version is also available for camouflage purposes, though this is not standard. The bullet proof glass of the canopy may be as thick as 38 millimeters, and is able to withstand direct hits from shrapnel and rounds fired from machine guns up to .50 caliber size. Additional armor plates can be fitted for improved protection.

Due to its modular design concept, the Z 10 can be armed with a wide variety of weaponry. The adaptation of the Chinese GJV289A standard, the Chinese equivalent of the MIL STD 1553B databus architecture, enables weaponry of both Soviet and Western origin to be adopted by the Z 10. Offensive weaponry consists of machine guns, cannons, rockets, and missiles. The stub wings have two hardpoints each for a total of four, each hardpoint being able to carry up to 4 missiles, for a total of up to 16.

Internal armament consists of a gun mount installed on the chin of the aircraft. Two stub wings provide attachment points for external ordnance or gun pods. The guns are mounted either in the chain gun form, or in the turret. All guns on the Z 10 can be used either against ground targets or aerial targets, and can be directly aimed by pilots’ HMS. Two types of autocannons are available for the Z 10, with the most common being a 23 mm PX 10A automatic chain gun indigenously developed by China. Another autocannon that can be mounted on the Z 10 is the Chinese reverse engineered 25 mm M242 Bushmaster adopted for helicopter use. Originally mounted on the NVH 4 derivative of Type 85 AFV, the Chinese military modified the gun for aerial use.

The air to surface missiles deployed by the Z 10 include the domestic HJ 8 and AKD 10 anti tank missiles. The AKD 10 is similar in capability to the AGM 114 Hellfire and it has an anti helicopter capability in addition to an anti tank capability. The Z 10 can also fire BA 21 long range anti tank missiles, which can be fired from 11 miles away, and homing onto target with the data linked millimeter wave radar. The main air to air missile deployed by the Z 10 is the TY 90, a missile specifically designed for use by helicopters in aerial combat. The TY 90 is much heavier than the MANPAD missiles usually carried by helicopters, providing better lethality and range. The Chinese FN 6 and QW series missiles can also be deployed, as with other non Chinese MANPADs. TY 90 and MANPADs are often carried in missile racks, with a total of 4 missiles carried per hardpoint. When using larger air to air missiles such as the PL 9 or similar missiles such as AIM 9 Sidewinder, the total number is reduced to 2. The Z 10 fired its first air to air missile in mid August 2013 during a live fire drill and successfully intercepted low altitude targets. The Z 10 can be armed with a wide variety of unguided rockets, ranging from 20 mm to 130 mm caliber. The largest rockets tested were a type of 130 mm rocket that were carried on the hardpoints just as missiles are carried, while smaller caliber rockets were mounted in conventional rocket pods. The most frequently used rockets are those ranging from 57 mm to 90 mm and a total of 4 pods can be carried under the stub wings, one under each hardpoint. A family of guided 90 mm rockets produced by a subsidiary of Norinco, the Harbin Jiancheng Group (哈尔滨建成集团有限公司), was first revealed in the 9th Zhuhai Airshow held in November 2012, designated as Sky Arrow 90 (Tianjian 90 or Tian Jian 90, 90).

In June 2012, the United States charged United Technologies and two of its subsidiaries, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Hamilton Sundstrand, of selling engine control software to China which aided in the development of the Changhe Z 10. While the Chinese defense ministry denied that China bought or used the software, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Hamilton Sundstrand agreed to pay more than $75 million to the U. S. government to settle the charges.