Changhe Z-10

Background The People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) established its army aviation units in January 1988. The unit used helicopters transferred from People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), including Mil Mi-4, Harbin Z-5, Mil Mi-8, and Aérospatiale Gazelle. By the mid-1980s, the Chinese decided to field dedicated attack helicopters. The brief honeymoon period between China and the West provided China opportunities to evaluate Agusta A129 Mangusta, AH-1 Cobra, and BGM-71 TOW missiles. However, the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre and the ensuing arms embargo prevented many deals from going through. Nevertheless, China successfully imported or licensed aircraft types such as Changhe Z-8, Harbin Z-9, Sikorsky S-70, Mi-17, and Aerospatiale AS332 Super Puma. Also, debate had arisen in China about whether the PLAGF or PLAAF should operate attack helicopters. Eventually, the PLAGF won and began to induct armed helicopters based on the Harbin Z-9 design. The use of the Z-9WA modification helped China realize the requirement for a dedicated attack helicopter platform. China began to develop the 6-ton class China Helicopter Medium (CHM) program in 1994, headed by the 602nd and 608th Research Institutes. This program was later developed into Harbin Z-20. China also secured assistance from Eurocopter France for the rotor system and AgustaWestland in 1997 for the transmission system in 1998. In 1998, the 602nd Research Institute proposed the Special Armed Project to develop the final design, Initially, the Z-10 project was planned to share its propulsion system with the CHM program, but the two programs were separated and the Z-10 was prioritized to be completed first. The Z-10 was one of the contenders to replace Pakistan's Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters. In 2015, Pakistan acquired three Z-10s for trials, but ultimately rejected the offer due to the inadequate WZ-9 engine. After the failed bid, Chinese engineers began to upgrade to the Z-10 platform to improve its competitiveness. A new prototype, designated Z-10ME, emerged in 2018 with a larger ammunition magazine size, new intake filtration systems, and a new missile approach warning system. In the same year, more equipment was added to the prototype, such as a more powerful WZ-9C turboshaft with power, new infrared signature-reducing engine exhaust nozzle, appliqué graphene-based armor plates, etc. The PLAGF's domestic Z-10 fleet was upgraded to the Z-10ME standard with the engines, appliqué armor plates, and infrared suppression nozzles. The Pakistan Army eventually purchased the Z-10ME, as well. ==Design==

Overview The Z-10 features a tandem cockpit compartment at the front section. This slim, rhombic configuration ensures structural strength, increases internal volumes for equipment, and reduces the frontal projected area and overall radar cross section. The radar-absorbent material is applied to the fuselage, further reducing the radar reflection and providing a certain degree of low observability. designed to reduce noise generated by the wingtip vortices. All blades are made with carbon fiber-wrapped spars with layered honeycomb composite for the skin, capable of sustaining damage against rounds. Propulsion The Z-10 prototype was powered by two Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6C-67C turboshaft engines, The early batches of Z-10 were powered by domestic Zhuzhou WZ-9 or WZ-9A turboshaft engines, providing of power. The reduced performance of WZ-9 turboshaft engines prevented Z-10 from carrying its maximum payload of 16 antitank guided missiles. infrared, ultraviolet warning receivers, The development of the primary electro-optical fire control systems was influenced by French and Israeli systems, but with locally programmed software. Both pilots have identical flight instrumentation, An additional holographic heads-up display (HUD) is provided for the front pilot. Other navigation instruments of Z-10 include laser gyrocompass, radio altimeter, Doppler radar, inertial navigation, satellite navigation, and identification friend or foe (IFF) systems. Armaments and payload The Z-10 has a modular weapon system. The system uses the GJV289A standard, the Chinese equivalent of the MIL-STD-1553B databus architecture, which enables weaponry of Chinese, Soviet, and Western origin to be adopted by the Z-10. Each stub wings have two hardpoints, Aside from anti-tank missiles, the Z-10 can also carry SW6 air-launched drones, The Z-10 can launch a great variety of unguided and guided rockets. Under the stub wings, a total of four rocket pods can be mounted on the hardpoints. Options include the 19-tube rocket pod, 7-tube Fire Snake rocket pod or 19-tube unguided rocket pod with anti-infantry fragmentation rockets. capable of firing the larger FS90A guided rocket Aside from the common calibers, the helicopter can support rockets from to . The EW pod features a stealth enclosure, and is capable of providing multi-target jamming, spectrum searching, and digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) signal processing. External fuel tanks be attached to further its operational and ferry ranges. The helicopter can also underslung all-terrain vehicles (ATV) for special operation insertion support. The Z-10 can underslung around 3 tonnes. ==Operational history==

China In 2011, the Z-10 could be observed operating at PLAGF bases. In September 2016, the PLA announced that all of its army aviation units had been equipped with the Z-10. The helicopter is stationed in frontline regions, such as the Tibet plateau and Taiwan Strait. but they rejected the offer due to the inadequate WZ-9 engine. Pakistan then chose Turkey's AH-1Z; however, contracts to acquire the AH-1Z and then the TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK (which uses the American LHTEC CTS800–4A engine) fell through because of worsening relations with the United States. In January 2022, negotiations to acquire the Z-10ME were underway; the Z-10ME had been identified as a fallback option by February 2020. Pakistan military reportedly received the first batch of Z-10ME in 2023. An official induction ceremony was held on 2 August 2025. Strategic implications 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. According to Boneham of Janes Information Services, the export potential of the Z-10ME lies in its capabilities and affordability. The helicopter is suitable for countries without access to Western and Russian hardware. ==Variants==

;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 (2018/2020): 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 in 2020, the fleet was upgraded to more powerful WZ-9C engines with rated power of , 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: 3 samples built for Pakistan, The Z-10ME was showcased at the Zhuhai Airshow 2018, 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. The new variant improved low-altitude flight performance The new electronics warfare system consists of several multi-purpose active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar panels, capable of passive signal detection, target searching, missile approach warning, and active jamming. 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. == Accidents and incidents ==

• In January 29, 2017, a PLAGF Z-10 crashed in Fujian during a nighttime exercise. The crew, pilot Major Zhang Hao and co-pilot Captain Wang Xiaodong, were killed. They were posthumously awarded martyr status. ==Operators==

; • People's Liberation Army — 208 units in service as of 2022. • People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation — 200 units of Z-10 variants ==Specifications (Z-10)==