Z-20 (all variants) thread

[weig2000]

For the first time a clear image of a PLAN Z-20S multi role/utility helicopter - here prototype 6212 - carrying 8 KD-10 ATGMs was posted. As such it shows the same weapon load like the PLA Army Aviation Z-20 seen a few weeks ago. (Image via @黑色多瑙河A from Weibo)

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We're getting an avalanche of news/pictures/videos on Z-20 and its variants lately! Z-20 will become a work horse for all branches of PLA.

 

[Blitzo]

For the first time a clear image of a PLAN Z-20S multi role/utility helicopter - here prototype 6212 - carrying 8 KD-10 ATGMs was posted. As such it shows the same weapon load like the PLA Army Aviation Z-20 seen a few weeks ago. (Image via @黑色多瑙河A from Weibo)

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I think the picture of the Army Z-20 with the wing/hardpoints depicted a different set up.

That Army Z-20 I would cautiously say it had two hardpoint stations on each wing, while this Z-20J/S has only one hardpoint on each wing.

Not to mention the Army Z-20 wing/hardpoints had different geometry as well.

 

[Blitzo]

Interesting HMD, looks sleek, but can’t say I’m a fan since the display arm looks to be blocking a fair chunk of the pilot’s peripheral vision.

While a HMD is normally reserved for attack helicopters to help operate the gun turret, in this instance they probably have it synced to the IRST ball turret instead, and is probably only for the missile armed attack version.

This would provide them with limited shoot and scoot capabilities whereby the helicopter could change course after firing a missile, while the co-pilot/gunner can use the HMD synced IRST turret to provide continuous target illumination so long as the IRST still has LoS on the target.

Arguably they could have done away with that and had more capabilities with a true fire and forget ATGM, but those are a lot more expensive per round.

I think this is a good illustration on the different mentality and calculus between the PLA and many western militaries - western militaries overwhelmingly do not expect to have to fight high intensive, long duration wars against peer or near peer opponents, certainly not to the extent where logistics and massive ramping up of production of weapons and munitions would come into play. For the PLA, that is almost to be expected. As such the PLA pays more attention to logistical, resupply and replacement costs and timescales when making their procurement decisions than most western militaries.

I don't think anyone in that picture is wearing an HMD to begin with; they look just like flight helmets to me.

More importantly I'm pretty sure this is just an image of a normal standard Z-20 cabin.



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As for missiles per round -- western military forces do still have laser guided ATGMs as well, in addition to their more advanced MMW and multimode guided ATGMs.

For the PLA's part, we can see that they have also recently introduced a MMW guided ATGM/KD-10 variant and are developing a newer multimode guided ATGM to supplement their older pure laser guided ATGMs.

 

[Deino]

I think the picture of the Army Z-20 with the wing/hardpoints depicted a different set up.

That Army Z-20 I would cautiously say it had two hardpoint stations on each wing, while this Z-20J/S has only one hardpoint on each wing.

Not to mention the Army Z-20 wing/hardpoints had different geometry as well.

Oh well, my English strikes me again.

Yes, the pylons were different but I wanted to say they carry the "same weapon load" of 8 KD-10 ATGMs.

Sorry for being once again not clear enough.

 

[SpicySichuan]

For the first time a clear image of a PLAN Z-20S multi role/utility helicopter - here prototype 6212 - carrying 8 KD-10 ATGMs was posted. As such it shows the same weapon load like the PLA Army Aviation Z-20 seen a few weeks ago. (Image via @黑色多瑙河A from Weibo)

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Why would the Navy need KD-10? Bunker busting during D-Day style landings/marine heliborne assault, as well as hunting missile boats like ROCN's Tuo Chiang class? Wouldn't the YJ-7 (15-40 km range mini anti-ship missiles) be better options for hunting down missile boats? Just want to clarify.

 

[daifo]

Why would the Navy need KD-10? Bunker busting during D-Day style landings/marine heliborne assault, as well as hunting missile boats like ROCN's Tuo Chiang class? Wouldn't the YJ-7 (15-40 km range mini anti-ship missiles) be better options for hunting down missile boats? Just want to clarify.

There is a naval anti-ship/sub Z-20 variant that will be more suitable for that role. This is the general utility variant that will be used for crew/marine transport, assault, swarm protection, rescue etc

 

[Blitzo]

Why would the Navy need KD-10? Bunker busting during D-Day style landings/marine heliborne assault, as well as hunting missile boats like ROCN's Tuo Chiang class? Wouldn't the YJ-7 (15-40 km range mini anti-ship missiles) be better options for hunting down missile boats? Just want to clarify.

It's not abnormal for navy helicopters to have ATGM sized missiles for countering small boats and small FACs.

USN MH-60Rs and MH-60Ss both carry Hellfire missiles.


And yes, chances are the Z-20F and Z-20J/S will also carry YJ-9 which is a small AShM appropriate for medium to large FACs and small corvettes.
But if we are talking about regional navies or the ROCN, they also have their own share of smaller sub 200 ton FACs like the Kuang Hua VI.

 

[by78]

Hovering over the northern grassland.

 

[by78]

Another image of a naval Z-20. Note the torpedo. The image quality is rather poor, and to be honest, it looks somewhat like a CG image as a result.

 

[Deino]

Another image of a naval Z-20. Note the torpedo. The image quality is rather poor, and to be honest, it looks somewhat like a CG image as a result.

It is a CG