PLAN's Lack of sufficient helicopters...an issue?

OK. So is this Be-200 going to be PLAN's primary ASW maritime aircraft? What I really want to know is how it would compare to the "May". I'm assuming that is more of the equivalent. What will this aircraft carry?

One note, even if PLAN has a maritime aircraft, they still need to develop a robust helo ASW capability.

Do you think it would be possible for the PLA to get a Mi-26? I dont see why they would not be able to get two or three, unless the Mi-26 is not for export.

Popeye, how on earth do you get away with posting stuff on u.s equipment in a Chinese weapon thread?
If indianfighter tried to do that, he would be ripped apart by the mods.

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Miggy, I was merely answering a question..So if it offends you I will delete it...
Ok??

Miggy..I deleted it. Happy now???

Kampfwagen said:

Do you think it would be possible for the PLA to get a Mi-26? I dont see why they would not be able to get two or three, unless the Mi-26 is not for export.

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The short answer to this question is yes. But how good would this type be for ASW? Probably not very good. I'm thinking PLAN wants to improve upon a design like Ka-28.

That does make sense, but it would certantly come in handy for short-range heavy-hauling. Military wise, the Mi-26 is a Clydesdale, not a Mustang. Not to mention the troop carrying capibility. (A 'standard' Mi-17 can carry 20+ soliders, so imagine how many a Mi-26 could carry?) You could probably even carry other helicopters or light attack vehicles. It would come in handy for the highly mobile force the PLA is seeking to become. On the nil side though, would probably be unit cost and vulnurability. Certantly, it's bulky size would make it an easy target (I dont know about infared detection countermeasures, or anti-heat emission systems.)

Also, why dosent the PLA try to buy some Mi-24's? They are certantly capable attack helicopters and most definately a decent multirole helicopter. (At least, from what I hear.)

China is already researching on the WZ-10, so there is no demand for the Mi-24, which I hear is relatively hard to use and inefficient. Plus, since we are thinking that China will build WZ-10 to look more like the Havoc, wouldn't it make more sense to buy the Mi-28N?

sumdud said:

China is already researching on the WZ-10, so there is no demand for the Mi-24, which I hear is relatively hard to use and inefficient. Plus, since we are thinking that China will build WZ-10 to look more like the Havoc, wouldn't it make more sense to buy the Mi-28N?

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Really? That's the first time I have heard of that. Then again, alot of the things I have heard about the Hind were Bare-Bones descriptions and never about performance issues asside from a Wiki that said the Hind's tail lacked armor and a relative lack of upkeep on older helicopters. Also, the first time I have heard of the WZ-10's shift in design. I don't even know if the Mi-28N is even avaliable for export. That, and I have not heard of a navalized version of the Mi-28 either.

I feel it is important that despite the big PLAN in the front there to note I did not know this was PLAN-centric, but for the Chinese Armed Forces in general. Would it be dificult to modify the Mi-28 to a navalized role? I dont imagine it would be.

Kampfwagen said:

Really? That's the first time I have heard of that. Then again, alot of the things I have heard about the Hind were Bare-Bones descriptions and never about performance issues asside from a Wiki that said the Hind's tail lacked armor and a relative lack of upkeep on older helicopters. Also, the first time I have heard of the WZ-10's shift in design. I don't even know if the Mi-28N is even avaliable for export. That, and I have not heard of a navalized version of the Mi-28 either.

I feel it is important that despite the big PLAN in the front there to note I did not know this was PLAN-centric, but for the Chinese Armed Forces in general. Would it be dificult to modify the Mi-28 to a navalized role? I dont imagine it would be.

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Would you please define what you mean by navalized? Turn it in to ASW helicopter or just make him LPD/LPH operational? Attack helicopters are not suited for ASW warfare… They lack space for sonar, radar and weapons equipment… But if you mean better anticorrosion protection so it could be stationed permanently on amphibious ships then yes Mi-28 can be navalized.

Both types of helicopters have different requirements as both have different uses. The systems on board are obviously going to be different. I'm not sure it would make much sense for China to navalize an Mi-28 or something of that type. You don't have alot of need for that heavy armor and can be alot more flexible in using something like Ka-28 for ASW purposes. I think PLAN will eventually opt for building something similar to Ka-28 for ASW even if it opts to build something like Mi-28 for PLA armored support. But like sumdud says......wouldn't it make sense just to purchase Mi-28 in the first place? Ka-28 too, especially if it gives PLAN what they need for ASW?

Navalizing? The Hind was never intended as a naval chopper in the first place.(At least I've never heard.) The Ka-29 did that.

The Hind is a cross between an AH and a transport. So with its armor, it can't transport much, and being so big, it can shoot well and take relatively much, but not very manuverable.

As for WZ-10, all the CGI and pictures we've seen of it looks more like the Havoc than Hind. (While both have stepped canopy, the WZ-10 never required a transport capability, this along w/ pictures making it more similar to the Havoc also.)

If you want a naval-jack of all trades naval chopper, a Ka-29 makes more sense. It is basically a Ka-28 doing what a Hind does.
But if I want a naval AH, I would probably go for a WZ-9 though. It doesn't have armor (As Sea Dog said, no need for it) but can transport (I think, it's pretty much just a Z-9 fitted w/ HJ-8 and TY-90) or attack/assault.