Think its fake because those missiles run the risk of striking the presumed retractable cannon or its spent casings.
Z-21/Z-X heavy attack helicopter
- Thread starter siegecrossbow
- Start date
Yes,it exists.
Looks more like drop tanks than munitions to me. Not sure about a retractable cannon either, probably just not installed on this airframe for some reason. The fidelity of this one is genuinely incredible, probably based on a real photo even if it is AI to some extent. Doubt anyone is that bored tho...
I agree, in theory if we interpret those things under the fuselage as two fuel tanks, and if we consider the idea that th cannon simply is not installed on this particular air frame (which we've seen with other airframes before), then it is plausible this may be a real picture.
I would still be cautious of course, but those two major red flags might be solvable.
To be fair, it's possible gun is simply not intended to be used when central pylon is in use.
It isn't unprecedented.
Possible, but removing the gun on an as needed basis seems rather odd.
It's not like it is in an easy to remove pod, it's not a payload.
I suppose in theory they could have designed it to be more modular, but I suspect the absence in some photos is a reflection of the relevant airframes being in different stages of testing.
I would be fairly surprised if in service aircraft routinely removed their ventral cannon on an as needed basis.
True,In the introduction of the belly hanger released before(in 392L), the mounting of 500KG auxiliary fuel tank was mentioned.
Maybe it simply does not intend to have a cannon in the first place. Helo as gunship is probably obsolete, when do we ever see attack helo doing gun runs in Russo-Ukraine war? But helo as a ulra-low altitude NLOS platform still has a place in modern combat, which is probably what this thing aim to be.
2×Abdominal hanging point,2×2×Underwing hanging point and 2×Wing tip hanging point,this is what I have observed so far.Maybe 8+8+2(or4)?(Maybe the wing tip has integrated the function of electronic countermeasure pod?)