Changhe Z-10

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The CAIC Z-10 (Chinese: 直-10 for 直升机), also called WZ-10, is an attack helicopter developed by the People's Republic of China. It is designed primarily for anti-tank warfare missions but has secondary air-to-air capability as well. It was designed by Kamov design bureau of Russia under a contract with the Chinese government. It was further developed and flight tested by the 602nd Research Institute under Wu Ximing (吴希明) and is being built by the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC).

Nicknames of characters in the Chinese classic novel Water Margin have been used to name Z-10 and its smaller comrade, the Harbin Z-19: Z-10 is called Fierce Thunderbolt (Pi Li Huo, 霹雳火), the nickname of Qin Ming, while Z-19 is called Black Whirlwind (Hei Xuan Feng, 黑旋风), the nickname of Li Kui.

In September 2016, the PLA announced that all of its ground force aviation units had been equipped with the WZ-10.

Variants[edit | edit source]

  • Z-10 Prototype: Prototype for basic tests. Not all had the same layout in that some had a fenestron configuration while others had a traditional tail rotor configuration; some had a chin gun turret while others had a chain gun; some had nose-mounted electro-optical systems while others had mast-mounted electro-optical systems.
  • Z-10H: Pre-production series powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-76 turboshaft engine.
  • Z-10: Equipped with the domestic Chinese WZ-9 engine. This model established the baseline for the Z-10 series' capabilities.
  • Z-10K: Z-10K is modified variant derived from the standard Z-10 at the request of the People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps.
  • Z-10 Upgrade: In 2018, older batches began to be upgraded alongside newly manufactured models. The ceramic/graphene composite armor plates (on the engine covering and below the cockpit windows) and a new missile approach warning system (MAWS) at the nose section and on the tail boom, both introduced initially on the Z-10ME, were installed on some of the Z-10. The upward-facing engine nozzle was not installed during the early stage of the upgrade program, possibly waiting for the engine replacement. Subsequently, the fleet was upgraded to more powerful WZ-9C engines, new data-link enabled missiles, IRCM systems, and upward-facing exhaust nozzles (to lower infrared visibility). It also introduces an advanced IFF system and an enhanced BeiDou navigation system antenna, significantly improving Z-10's operational capabilities.
  • Z-10 Export Prototypes: Three samples built for Pakistan, powered by the early WZ-9 engine with maximum power around 930 kW (1,250 shp). It was not selected by Pakistan after evaluation due to insufficient engine power under the plateau condition
  • Z-10ME (2018): "ME" stands for upgrade export variant. The first prototype, designated Z-10ME-01, was unveiled in 2018. The ME-01 prototype was initially fitted with a larger ammunition magazine with tripled ammunition belts and a mesh-like intake filtration system. The Z-10ME was showcased at the Zhuhai Airshow 2018, features several defensive measures, including active and passive countermeasures, radar warning receiver, new engine exhaust nozzle pointed upwards to reduce infrared signature, a more sophisticated intake filtration system, a more powerful WZ-9C turboshaft with 1,200 kW (1,600 shp) power, appliqué graphene-based armor panels, infrared jammer, and a new IFF interrogator. Z-10ME-01 can install a millimeter wave fire control radar at the top of the rotor masat. The Z-10ME-01 at Zhuhai Airshow 2018 served as the basis for upgrading PLAGF's domestic Z-10 fleet.
  • Z-10ME (2021): A configuration of Z-10ME first observed in 2021 as the second prototype named Z-10ME-02. It was showcased internationally at 2024 Singapore Airshow. The new variant improved low-altitude flight performance and has a different avionics layout around the fuselage. The new electronics warfare system consists of serveal multi-purpose active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar panels, capable of passive signal detection, target searching, missile approach warning, and active jamming. It's also fitted with an over-the-rotor mast-mounted Yu Huo millimeter wave fire control radar to detect long-range targets. Beside radars, the Z-10ME-02 features an integrated electro-optical (EO) countermeasure system with new detection sensors (replacing the previous laser/infrared/ultraviolet warning alarms) and new active directional infrared countermeasure systems (DIRCM) to counter against infrared homing (IR) missiles. All radar and EO sensors on Z-10ME-02 are interconnected to provide comprehensive situation awareness and operational flexibility.

Users[edit | edit source]

  • Pakistan
    • Pakistan Army - 3 for trials and evaluation with a follow up order of 7 more units.
  • People's Republic of China
    • People's Liberation Army Ground Force x 96 - 24 more on order

See Also[edit | edit source]