China unveils export version of attack helicopter

Correction: A previous version of this story mischaracterized Chinese state-owned companies’ participation in foreign air shows. The 2024 Singapore Airshow marks the first time Chinese state-owned companies had a full-scale military aircraft on static display at an air show outside the country.

SINGAPORE — China this week unveiled the export version of the signature attack helicopter by the People’s Liberation Army at the Singapore Airshow here.

Though China has participated in the biennial event in previous years, this marks the first time Chinese state-owned companies had a full-scale military aircraft on static display at an air show outside the country.

China unveiled the Z-10ME at Airshow China 2021; some analysts have since compared it to Boeing’s AH-64 Apache.

The PLA has used the helicopter for military exercises near Taiwan and India. More than 200 Z-10s and its numerous variations are in active service with the PLA, according to the Military Balance 2023 report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank.

The attack helicopter was developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries and brought to the airshow by state-owned China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corp. and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

At this year’s Singapore Airshow, the company displayed the export version, known as the Changhe Z-10-ME-02, alongside rocket launchers, GR5 guided rockets and air-to-air missiles CM-502KG and TY-90. Chinese delegates have not granted interviews or scheduled any media briefings about the helicopter.

The helicopter can carry 23mm high-explosive incendiary ammunition and a 280kg drop tank. The aircraft is equipped with a mast-mounted radar, a missile approach warning system, and directional infrared countermeasure systems against heat-seeking (IR) missiles, according to Flight Daily News, the airshow’s magazine.

Previous iterations of the Changhe Z-10 have carried air-to-surface and larger air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder.

Aside from China, the aircraft is being used by the Pakistan military. In 2022, Pakistan Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Babar Iftikhar announced government plans to procure Z-10ME attack helicopters to replace a previously signed deal for T129 attack helicopters from Turkey.

While the government has not disclosed the number of helicopters ordered and the price, the Pakistan military reportedly received initial batches of the Z-10ME last year.

Leilani Chavez is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. Her reporting expertise is in East Asian politics, development projects, environmental issues and security.

更正：此前报道对中国国有企业参与海外航展的情况描述有误。2024年新加坡航展是中国国有企业首次在境外航展上进行全尺寸军用飞机静态展示。

新加坡——本周，中国人民解放军在新加坡航展上推出了其标志性攻击直升机的出口版本。

虽然中国此前也参加过两年一度的航展，但这是中国国有企业首次在国外航展上进行全尺寸军用飞机的静态展示。

中国在2021年中国航展上发布了Z-10ME；一些分析人士随后将其与波音公司的AH-64阿帕奇进行了比较。

解放军已在台湾和印度附近海域使用该型直升机进行军事演习。据国际战略研究所发布的《2023年军事平衡》报告显示，解放军现役的Z-10及其众多衍生型号超过200架。

这款攻击直升机由昌河飞机工业公司研制，由国有企业中国航空技术进出口总公司和中国航空工业集团公司带到航展上。

在今年的新加坡航展上，该公司展出了出口型直升机昌河Z-10-ME-02，同时展出的还有火箭发射器、GR5制导火箭以及CM-502KG和TY-90空空导弹。中国方面尚未接受采访，也没有安排任何关于该型直升机的媒体简报会。

据航展杂志《飞行日报》报道，这架直升机可携带23毫米高爆燃烧弹和一个280公斤的副油箱。该机配备了桅杆式雷达、导弹逼近告警系统以及用于对抗红外制导导弹的定向红外对抗系统。

昌河Z-10的前几代产品曾携带过空对地导弹和更大的空对空导弹，例如AIM-9响尾蛇导弹。

除了中国，巴基斯坦军方也在使用该型飞机。2022年，巴基斯坦陆军发言人巴巴尔·伊夫提哈尔少将宣布，政府计划采购Z-10ME攻击直升机，以取代此前与土耳其签署的T-129攻击直升机采购协议。

虽然政府尚未透露订购的直升机数量和价格，但据报道，巴基斯坦军方去年已收到首批 Z-10ME 直升机。

莱拉尼·查韦斯是《防务新闻》的亚洲记者。她的报道专长是东亚政治、发展项目、环境问题和安全。