Harbin Z-20 Explained

The Harbin Z-20 (Chinese: t=直-20) is a Chinese medium-lift utility helicopter produced by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG). It was first flown on 23 December 2013 and has a maximum takeoff weight in the range of 10t.[1] [2] The Z-20 can operate from locations above 4000m (13,000feet) in altitude as well as from the Liaoning aircraft carrier.[3] [4] It is regarded to be comparable in performance to the US-made Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, of which the civilian Sikorsky S-70C-2 variant has been used by the People's Liberation Army since 1984.[5]

Development

The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has had a requirement for a high-altitude medium utility helicopter that can operate in the mountainous regions in China since the 1980s. In 1984, the PLAAF acquired 24 Sikorsky S-70C-2s with enhanced General Electric T700-701A engines from the US government.

China was unable to purchase more Sikorsky aircraft following the fallout from the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests that resulted in an EU and US arms embargo. This led to the development of an indigenous so-called "10-tonne helicopter project" that started in 2006, and the Z-20 made its first flight on 23 December 2013.

Helicopter production in China received a massive boost after the 2008 Sichuan earthquakes highlighted the value of helicopters in humanitarian missions.[6] In addition to the PLAAF, the Z-20 will likely be used by other services in the People's Liberation Army.[7] It could fill the role of a multi-role naval helicopter for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) that is small enough to be interoperable across all PLAN vessels while still have a full suite of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities installed.[8]

The Z-20 has been tested carrying missiles on wing pylons.[9]

A stealth Z-20 variant has been indicated under development since 2015.[10] One analyst said China could produce the stealth variant relatively easily because of their access to a modified MH-60 Black Hawk tail section, recovered by Pakistani security forces after a crash during the Bin Laden raid.[11] In May 2021, the concept model of the stealthy Z-20 variant was public revealed. The model displayed a trapezoidal airframe, a shrouded main rotor hub, and an upper-facing ventilation system located on an enlarged tail boom.[12]

Design

The Z-20 is based on the 1970s S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk, which China acquired in the 1980s. Pakistan may also have allowed China to examine wreckage from the US special forces Black Hawk abandoned during the assassination of Osama bin Laden on 1 May 2011.[13] [14]

The helicopter uses fly-by-wire controls and a five-bladed main rotor; the Black Hawk has four blades. The tail-to-fuselage joint frame is more angular than the Black Hawk's, for greater lift, cabin capacity, and endurance. The fairings behind the engine exhausts and on the spine are likely for satellite communications or the BeiDou satellite navigation system.[15] The Z-20 carries multiple defensive countermeasures, including radar warning receivers (RWR) and missile approach warning system (MAWS), and four chaff and flare launchers mounted for 360-degree coverage.[16]

The Z-20 is believed to be powered by the domestic WZ-10 turboshaft engine providing of power,[17] [18] significantly improved from the engines on the S-70-C2[16] and is slightly more powerful than the latest iteration of the Black Hawk engine, the GE T700-701D.[19] The Z-20 also incorporates new technologies that reduce weight and improve lift as well as cutting edge de-icing tech on the rotor-blades. These features enable it to conduct operations at altitudes above 4,000 m (13,200 ft). The engine has an emergency thrust of .[20] Compared to the S-70-C2, the Z-20 has overall improvements to the speed, service ceiling, range, and payload.[16]

Variants

Z-20
  • Base transport variant for PLA Army.
    Z-20T Assault Variant
  • Armed assault variant featuring stub wings with two hardpoints each for weapons and targeting sensors, used by PLA Army.[21] [22] [23]
    Z-20S
  • Search and rescue (SAR) used by PLA Army. Equipped with FLIR, a searchlight under the fuselage, a hoist above the cabin door, a crash position indicator (CPI) underneath the tail boom, new ECM antennas above the LWR, and essential medical equipment inside the cabin.
    Z-20K
  • PLAAF airborne corps variant.[24]
    Z-20KA
  • PLAAF airborne corps air assault variant, featuring additional hardpoints for weapons and EO sensors.[25]
    Z-20KS
  • PLAAF airborne corps search and rescue variant.[26]
    Z-20J
  • Naval utility/transport variant.[27]
    Z-20F
  • Naval ASW variant.[28] Equipped with surface radar under nose, pylon for torpedoes, dipping sonar underbelly and bubble window for observation.
    Z-20 PAP
  • variant for People's Armed Police (PAP).[29]
    Z-21: A dedicated attack helicopter based on the Z-20 airframe. The Z-21 has a tail section and rotor configuration similar to the Z-20 but with a thinner fuselage. A tandem cockpit replaces the side-by-side seating on the original, and a autocannon is mounted below. A cheek fairing is added for additional ammunition and avionics. A mmW radar is mounted on top of the rotor mast. The engine is rated at with exhaust direction is changed to upward-facing, reducing the infrared signature. Six hard points on the stub wings to provide more firepower than the Changhe Z-10.[30] [16] [31] The helicopter was first observed in China in March 2024.[32]

    Operators

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: China Develops New Type of Helicopter: DM . https://archive.today/20131226172528/http://english.cri.cn/6909/2013/12/26/3521s805319.htm . dead . December 26, 2013 . CRI English . 26 December 2013 . 27 December 2013 . Fei.
    2. Web site: Chinese Military Utility Helo Makes First Flight . Aviation Weekly . 24 December 2013 . 27 December 2013 . Perrett . Bradley . https://web.archive.org/web/20131226041445/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_12_24_2013_p0-650365.xml . 26 December 2013.
    3. Web site: China Has High Hopes For Z-20 Helicopter. AIN Online . Chen . Chuanren . 22 November 2017.
    4. Web site: Z-20: China's first domestic tactical utility helicopter . China Times . 24 December 2013 . 27 December 2013 . Staff Reporter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131227053243/http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20131225000012&cid=1101 . 27 December 2013 .
    5. Web site: Here Is Our Best Look Yet At China's UH-60 Black Hawk Clone The Z-20. Tyler. Rogoway. The Drive. 5 November 2016 .
    6. Web site: Z8 Helicopter production boost from 2008 . AirForceWorld.com . 5 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141027070141/http://www.airforceworld.com/pla/english/z8-helicopter-china.html . 27 October 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
    7. Web site: Waldron. Greg. Harbin Z-20 destined for wide number of roles. 2020-07-02. Flight Global. en.
    8. Web site: ASW-capable variant of Z-20 helo may soon enter PLA Navy service. 11 January 2021.
    9. Web site: Rupprecht . Andreas . Z-20 prototype seen carrying possible anti-tank guided missiles . Janes . 21 October 2021 . 16 May 2022.
    10. Web site: China developing new attack helicopter with stealth power . straitstimes . 12 September 2015 .
    11. Web site: Stealthy Variant Of China's Z-20 Black Hawk Clone Emerges In Concept Model Form . The Drive . 30 May 2021.
    12. Web site: Stealthy Variant Of China's Z-20 Black Hawk Clone Emerges In Concept Model Form . The War Zone . 30 May 2021 . Tyler . Rogoway .
    13. Web site: Mysterious Chinese Helicopter Emerges That Resembles The One Used In Bin Laden Raid . Business Insider . 3 September 2013 . 27 December 2013 . David Cenciotti.
    14. Web site: Did China Just Clone a Black Hawk Helicopter . The Diplomat . 26 December 2013 . 27 December 2013 . Zachary Keck.
    15. Web site: China's Z-20 Helicopter Features Home-made Engine, Fly-by-wire . DefenseMirror.com . 10 October 2019 . 16 May 2022.
    16. Web site: America's AH-64 Apache Is One of the World's Deadliest Helicopters—And China Just Made Its Own Copy . Popular Mechanics . 22 October 2024 . Sébastien . Roblin .
    17. Web site: WZ-10 . Deagel .
    18. Web site: WZ-10 . Airframer .
    19. Web site: T700-GE-701D Engine Awarded U.S. Army Qualification . www.geaviation.com.com . 4 Nov 2004 . 17 Jul 2022.
    20. Web site: 我军直20采用纯国产涡轴10发动机：最大功率达2000KW . Sina News . 10 October 2019 .
    21. Web site: New Chinese Z-20 'armed assault' variant emerges . 23 May 2024 .
    22. Web site: China's Z-20 Black Hawk Clone Is Now Packing Air-To-Ground Missiles . The War Zone . 31 December 2020 . Thomas . Newdick .
    23. Web site: China’s new Z-20T assault helicopter challenges US MH-60L DAP for Special Operation Forces.. Armyrecognition . 13 November 2024 .
    24. Web site: Mainland China's new Z-20 helicopter reports for duty in Hong Kong . South China Morning Post . 18 August 2022 . Minnie . Chan .
    25. Web site: 直-20首秀空军航空开放活动，空降兵的空中"多面手" . Sohu News . 26 July 2023 .
    26. Web site: 驻港部队亮出好东西，直-20KS首次公开亮相 . China.com .
    27. Web site: New images of Z-20 helicopter variants highlight China's ASW efforts . FlightGlobal . 3 November 2020 . Greg . Waldron .
    28. Web site: Here Is Our First Clear Look At China's Z-20F Seahawk Helicopter Clone (Updated). Tyler. Rogoway. The Drive. 13 October 2019 .
    29. Web site: 武警版直-20公开亮相，陆海空三军装备的规模，就非常值得期待了 . Tencent News . 18 March 2023 .
    30. Web site: New Chinese attack helicopter in development . Janes . 28 March 2024 . Akhil . Kadidal .
    31. Web site: First Clear Photos Of China's New Z-21 Attack Helicopter (With Striking Resemblance To AH-64) . The Aviationist . 30 March 2024 .
    32. Web site: China's New Heavy Attack Helicopter Spotted For The First Time (Updated) . The War Zone . 21 March 2024 . Thomas . Newdick .
    33. Book: The Military Balance 2024. 12 February 2024 . Routledge (For The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)). London . 978-1-03-278004-7 . For Strategic Studies (Iiss) . The International Institute .
    34. Web site: Chinese navy shows off new anti-submarine helicopter . South China Morning Pos t. 2022-04-23 . Amber . Wang.
    35. Web site: Rupprecht . Andreas . Dominguez . Gabriel . Possible New Variant of China's Z-20 Helicopter . Mönch Publishing Group . 25 February 2022 . 16 May 2022.

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