Скачать с ютуб Z-10: better than Apache? The first Chinese attack helicopter finally becomes a strong contender в хорошем качестве

Z-10: better than Apache? The first Chinese attack helicopter finally becomes a strong contender

In the late 2010s, the Chinese Army started to deploy its first dedicated attack helicopter, the Z-10 attack helicopter. How good is this helicopter? How does it compare with the AH-64 Apache? Let’s find out.   In the 2000s, the Z-10 project was initiated. Three Z-10 prototypes were built and tested by the Changhe aviation industry, followed by eight more prototypes and pre-production versions.  The most obvious difference between the Z-10 and Apache is the size and weight. The Z-10 is a 7-ton helicopter, while the Apache is a 10-ton helicopter.  The Z-10 adopts a typical western attack helicopter configuration, but the pilot is in the front seat while the Apache pilot is in the back seat.  The two cabins are separated by bullet-proof materials. When it is hit by enemy fire, only one crew member will be impacted in most cases. The Z-10 has a pair of wings that mainly act as the bases of pylons.  It has a five-bladed main rotor which is very similar to a Eurocopter design. The propeller rotates in a clockwise direction. That is quite different from the western design. The tail rotor is similar to the four-blade design of the AH-64.  Like many Chinese aircraft, the engine is the biggest problem of the Z-10 prototypes. They adopted the PT6C-76CWZ engine from Pratt & Whitney of Canada, but due to interference from the United States, China can no longer obtain the engines. Fortunately, the domestically developed WZ-9 turboshaft engine has been a success. However, since the WZ-9 engine has less output, designers have to drop a lot of equipment or reduce the capacity to reduce weight. The advanced sensor suite was cut from the project. A moderate suite was chosen instead. It even impacts the armour this helicopter carries, severely reducing its survivability.   Subsequently, China began to improve and upgrade the WZ-9 engine, and finally the improved WZ-9C became available. This improved engine has a maximum output power of 1200 KW. After this new engine is in service, new composite armour and infrared suppression systems are added to the fuselage of the newly upgraded Z-10 attack helicopter. To fully address the power output problem, it is believed that the Chinese Army will adopt the new WZ-10 engine. The sensor suite of the Z-10 prototype is similar to that of the Apache. It has two independent rotating turrets, one for the pilot and the other for the gunner. It even has a similar layout to the ones on the Apache. However, due to weight reduction, the production Z-10 only has a downgraded sensor turret. The Z-10 has advanced avionics and a glass cockpit. The Z-10 crew has received at least two generations of helmet-mounted display/targeting systems. The Z-10 has a rotating gun turret behind the sensor turret. In it there is a 23mm Chinese gas-operated gun. Due to its weight restriction, the Z-10 has a less powerful gun than the Apache or Russian gunships.  The pylons can carry rockets, bombs, and missiles. The main missile weapon is the AKD-10 anti-tank missile, which is similar to the American AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missile. The AKD-10 is adopted by Chinese attack helicopters and drones. Its export version is called Blue Arrow 7.  This missile has semi-active laser guidance and is capable of defeating any existing main battle tank armor. The AKD-10 is powered by a solid rocket engine. Its export version has a range of 7,000 meters, a diameter of 170 mm, weighs 46 kg, and can penetrate 1,400 mm of steel armor. It can defeat explosive reaction armor. This missile is designed to be launched from a much higher altitude than a helicopter typically flies. That avoids a problem the Hellfire missile has: it requires a drone to drop down to a lower altitude to launch.  Because of the engine power output problem, the Z-10 project has been focusing on future development and improvement to address existing disadvantages. The export variant, the Z-10ME, has been proven to be a much better aircraft compared to the early Z-10.  The engines of the Z-10ME have been upgraded to the improved WZ-9 turboshaft with greatly increased output. The flight performance at high altitude is much better and can carry more equipment and weapons. The exhaust is changed to point upwards, which can reduce exhaust temperature and thermal signal. Additional armour can be installed.  Upgraded missile alert sensors, countermeasures, electronic warfare systems, and other equipment are added. In addition, the Z-10ME also has an additional 23mm ammunition storage in the belly, which greatly increases its combat endurance.  Chinese Military News:    • Pakistan J-10C fighter First Photo! T...   China Air Force:    • J-20 fighter promotional video from C...   Chinese space exploration:    • New Mars photos from China - Feb 2022...   Photo and video: Wiki common, PLADaily weibo, Chinese Army wechat, Yangshipin site