First Images Confirm Chinese Z-10ME Attack Helicopters Are Now in Pakistani Service
South Asia , Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft
Images from Pakistan have for the first time confirmed the delivery of Chinese Z-10ME attack helicopters to serve in the Pakistan Army, following years of speculation and unconfirmed reports that the aircraft were set to be procured to replace the South Asian state’s ageing U.S. supplied AH-1F Cobras. The release of the images closely coincides with the first deliveries of American AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Army, which represents India’s only major procurement of manned combat aircraft from the United States.
The Pakistan Army has previously planned to replace its ageing AH-1Fs with American AH-1Z Vipers, a much improved variant of the same Cold War era design. Although the Untied States approved a sale in 2015, Washington later backed out of the deal, with the decision thought to have been influenced by the perceived need to strengthen defence ties with India. An attempt to procure Turkish T129 attack helicopters in 2018 also ended in failure, with the limitations of Turkish industry meaning that the aircraft have relied extremely heavily on parts and technologies from across the Western world, such as their LHTEC T800 engines, which allowed Ankara’s NATO allies to block the sale.
Entering service from 2009, the Z-10 is the first internationally competitive class of attack helicopter to have been developed in China. The aircraft’s capabilities have been incrementally enhanced over the past 16 years, with new variants boasting improved millimetre-wave fire control radars and superior endurances allowing them to carry more missiles over longer distances. The latest variant, the Z-10M, replaces the old WZ-9 turboshaft engine with the more powerful WZ-16 which improves its flight performance and its endurance. The variant can carry up to 16 HJ-10 anti-tank missiles, bridging the gap in firepower with modern American and Russian designs. The aircraft’s exhaust and side structures appear to be conformal and rounded to provide limited stealth capabilities. The Z-10ME procured by Pakistan is an export variant of the Z-10M, with the sale having the potential to pave the way to later Pakistani acquisitions of China’s new much heavier class of attack helicopter which was first unveiled in March 2024.
So nothing wrong if other countries sapply arms to Isaac, Ukraine etc.
ReplyDeletemfer, supply arms during war & during peaceful time r TOTALLY different kind of road!
DeleteBut u will NEVER understand, just for a cent of zionist fart.