utility helos for army are still quite necessary. z9 could be more useful if it could lift more weight. i dont think majority of utility or cargo missions require oversized cargo to be carried inside a helo. most cargo can be carried on a sling and infantry can, of course, do okay from side loading doors as well.
z8 isnt really that much larger than mi171. z8 can lift around 6 tons of fuel/cargo, perhaps 6.5 for the newest variants; while mi171 can lift 5.5 tons (and mi17v7 can lift 6 tons)
I do believe we will see z15 in both army and navy, in fairly large numbers. When the development ends, of course. Since Turbomeca's ardiden 3 engine isnt quite ready yet, chinese version of it can't be ready either. We will have to wait another two to four years before we start seeing z15 in service.
z8 isnt really that much larger than mi171. z8 can lift around 6 tons of fuel/cargo, perhaps 6.5 for the newest variants; while mi171 can lift 5.5 tons (and mi17v7 can lift 6 tons)
I do believe we will see z15 in both army and navy, in fairly large numbers. When the development ends, of course. Since Turbomeca's ardiden 3 engine isnt quite ready yet, chinese version of it can't be ready either. We will have to wait another two to four years before we start seeing z15 in service.