Hard to tell on the Twitter photos, but it looks likely there's some extra equipment on the nose of the modified aircraft, as well as the wing kit. There's obviously the test-style extended air data probe, but also looks like a larger electro-optic sensor on top and possibly something underneath the nose as well.
Z-20 (all variants) thread
- Thread starter delft
- Start date
lcloo
Captain
Yes, they need some sort of tracking and aiming devices for missiles and rockets, should be similar to the sensor on Z10/Z19.
Not sure what having an EO turret in that position will do to the weather/terrain radar performance, but I reckon it probably won't do it any good! Probably shows where the priorities are for the aircraft though.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Blackhawk has ESSS and the US has Apache. Generally the ESSS is normally used for fuel tanks. Extending the range of the chopper for ferry. But in export they can sell it to nations who don’t have the want of a dedicated attack chopper.
It may be a way in the medium term to eliminate z-9/19 type systems to cover the personnel, parts production etc over to a z-20 based one. Like what the US has done with the OH-58D.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
OH58D had issues that lead to its retirement. It was slated to be replaced first by the RAH66, when that was cancelled it was during Afghanistan. The problem there is that operating in the high hot of the Hindu Kush with thin air was putting the light weight single engine OH58D at its limitations. AH64 could operate their OH58D was designed based off Its original missions in near sea level Vietnam then updated with sensors and systems for the European theater.
The Apache took the mission as a scout but ever since the Kiowa was retired the US Army has been shopping for an off the shelf Scout with hot high capacity.
In addition to what @TerraN_EmpirE said, don’t forget that Z-19 came after Z-10 as well. So we can surmise that it was PLA itself that decided Z-19 was needed.
If we look at a lot of recent training videos, there are many where Z-19 is working in tandem with Z-10 as a hunter-killer team. If I recall correctly, it was also mentioned that Z-19 radar can be data linked with missiles from Z-10, so basically the Z-19 is becoming more integral rather than something that should be eliminated.
I'm out of the loop here but the new heavy attack helicopter is based on the Z20?