Z-21/Z-X heavy attack helicopter

cn_habs said:

In this layout, the person sitting in the back doesn't really have any forward visibility.

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The classic attack chopper tandem seating has the rear seat for the pilot. Whom is seated stadium style. Above the gunner. His vision is not great but for regular flying it’s not as bad as you might think. Many visual aides are also available as the pilot can use the same sensors on the turret on the nose. This does come at the cost of loosing dimensionality. So forward views are not the weakness. Downward are. Downwards being important for landing a helicopter.

TerraN_EmpirE said:

The classic attack chopper tandem seating has the rear seat for the pilot. Whom is seated stadium style. Above the gunner. His vision is not great but for regular flying it’s not as bad as you might think. Many visual aides are also available as the pilot can use the same sensors on the turret on the nose. This does come at the cost of loosing dimensionality. So forward views are not the weakness. Downward are. Downwards being important for landing a helicopter.

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Indeed, but I would express the normal disclaimer that people shouldn't read too much into early CGIs until we get clearer images of relevant details (such as the cockpit window sizes/geometry).

Additionally, it is also worth noting that on Z-10 the pilot is seated at the front and gunner at the rear, and while we cannot determine how they are positioned on Z-21, it is something to keep an open mind on.

I suspect based on the large size of the platform that this new helicopter is centred towards operating over the Taiwan Straights and also against India, where the extra power is required to operate fully effectively in the tibean plateau/himalayan moutain area / ladakh ...

Hopefully we will get some nice new high res photos to look over soon. Additionally it does seem that Turkey with its T929 and China with its Z-21 are attempting to solve for the same requirements as they look so similar ?

TheFuture_NoMore said:

I suspect based on the large size of the platform that this new helicopter is centred towards operating over the Taiwan Straights and also against India, where the extra power is required to operate fully effectively in the tibean plateau/himalayan moutain area / ladakh ...

Hopefully we will get some nice new high res photos to look over soon. Additionally it does seem that Turkey with its T929 and China with its Z-21 are attempting to solve for the same requirements as they look so similar ?

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With the volume displayed from both, internal fuel capacity for loitering time without losing harpoint for fuel tanks could be part of these designs.

I think maybe these artist maybe making too much speculation of it being similar to an Apache since we can't see the side details or maybe it is my disappointment of it being so -_- . I rather it take a more russian design language like a mi-28/mi-48 or ka-52

More fanpic from @高山CG/wb

I do wonder the doctrine role that required this new 10t class attack helicopter , the whole design seems to indicate the thought of good enough now , mature platforms and mature technologies. Does PLA army aviation need it that badly to fulfill a role that Z-10 can't ?

The trends we have seen of the last few years in attack helicopters have shown. First defensive systems are more important than ever. Second long range sensors are going to be more critical than ever to accommodate, Third longer range precision guided missiles, Kamikaze style UAS systems launched from helicopters.
Fourth longer ranges. Having a larger heavier helicopter gives you the ability to do all of the above.

daifo said:

I think maybe these artist maybe making too much speculation of it being similar to an Apache since we can't see the side details or maybe it is my disappointment of it being so -_- . I rather it take a more russian design language like a mi-28/mi-48 or ka-52

More fanpic from @高山CG/wb
View attachment 127094

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Mi48? You mean the Arma III fictional Havok/Hind?
Mi28 is hardly much different than what we got.
KA52 is what it is because it was originally designed as a single seater helicopter and when they wanted to make a two seater they wanted to keep the same length and not have to redo the whole design.
This whole aesthetic argument I find rather odd because end of day it’s a military weapon. Form follows function and we haven’t gotten a sharp HD quality image of this thing.

TK3600 said:

I am going to guess it has a very long operation range. Z-10 already have more than both of those at 800km. Considering this thing weight more than Z-10 without more weapon payload, I am guessing very very long operational range.

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Fun ņumbers but high altitude guzzles fuel. If China thinks their engines are on par with the Whitney’s then I assume they’ll pump these out. Engines were an issue iirc since before the z10, hence the variations of exhaust we’ve seen since the original z10

I saw this one coming. Several years ago in fact.

It just makes perfect sense. If you want to develop a heavy attack helicopter, and you had the Z-20's engines, this is what you get.
It has a smaller frontal profile and lower IR signature than the Z-20. The smaller cabin will also mean more weight available to weapon systems.
The question right now is about weapon systems and sensors. Given the combat experiences in recent conflicts they must add weapons which can operate outside ATGM range. It also needs to be capable enough to shoot down opposing small and medium drones.