Harbin Z-9

Harbin Z-9
A Chinese naval Z-9 departs HMS Cornwall
Role Medium multi-purpose utility helicopter
Manufacturer Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
First flight 1981
Introduction 1994
Status Operational In production
Primary users China
Pakistan
Produced 1981-present
Number built 200+
Developed from Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin
Variants Harbin Z-19

The Harbin Z-9 (NATO reporting name "Haitun", Chinese: 海豚 for Dolphin[1]) is a Chinese military utility helicopter. It is a licensed variant of the French Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, and is manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation.

Design and development

The first Z-9 flew in 1981, and was built in China from components supplied by Aérospatiale as part of a production patent bought on October 15, 1980.[2] On 16 January 1992, the indigenous variant Z-9B, constructed with 70% Chinese-made parts, flew successfully. The flight test was completed in November 1992 and the design was finalized a month later. Z-9B production began in 1993 and entered PLA service in 1994.[3]

The Z-9B features 11-blade Fenestron faired-in tail rotor with wider-chord, all-composite blades replacing the 13-blade in AS 365N. As a light tactical troop transport, the Z-9 has the capacity to transport 10 fully armed soldiers. Generally the Z-9 is identical to the AS 365N Dauphin, though later variants of the Z-9 incorporate more composite materials to increase structural strength and lower radar signature. The helicopter has a four-blade main rotor, with two turboshaft engines mounted side by side on top of the cabin with engine layout identical to the AS 365N. The Z-9 teardrop-shaped body features a tapered boom to the tail fin, with rounded nose and stepped-up cockpit, and retractable gear and all flat bottom.

In 2002, Harbin obtained Chinese certification for the new H410A variant of the Z-9, which featured more powerful Turbomeca Arriel 2C turboshaft engines; Eurocopter issued official objections to Harbin's decision to continue production in spite of the license-production agreement having expired, leading to a period of highly sensitive international negotiations to resolve the dispute.[4]

Variants

An armed variant has been fielded by the PLA since the early 1990s as the WZ-9 or Z-9W, with pylons fitted for anti-tank missiles. These helicopters lack the maneuverability and survivability of a proper attack helicopter, and merely provide a stopgap during the development of the WZ-10. The latest armed version, the Z-9W, was introduced in 2005 and has night attack capabilities, with an under-nose low-light TV and infra-red observing and tracking unit.

The naval version introduced in the 1990s is known as the Z-9C. As well as SAR and ASW duties, the Z-9C can be fitted with an X-band KLC-1 surface search radar to detect surface targets beyond the range of shipborne radar systems.[5]

Harbin Z-9W (WZ-9)
Z-9
Chinese license produce of the French AS.365N1.
Z-9A
Chinese kit-built version of the AS.365N2.
Z-9A-100
Prototypes for domestic market versions with WZ8A engines. First flight 16 January 1992, approved 30 December 1992.
Z-9B
Initial version based on Z-9A-100. Multi-role.
Z-9C
Chinese license produce of the Eurocopter AS.565 Panther given to the PLA Naval Air Force.
Z-9EC
ASW variant produced for the Pakistan Naval Air Arm. Configured with pulse-compression radar, low frequency dipping sonar, radar warning receiver and doppler navigation system, it is also armed with torpedoes for use aboard Pakistan Navy's F-22P Zulfiquar class frigates.[6]
Z-9W (WZ-9)
Armed version with optional pylon-mounted armament and gyro stabilized, roof-mounted optical sight. Export designation Z-9G, roof-mounted sight optional. First flown in 1987, with the first weapons tests in 1989.[7]
Harbin Z-9WA
Z-9WA
A newer night-capable version has been built with nose-mounted FLIR. July 2011, Xinhua News Agency released a photo of Z-9WA firing ADK10 air-to-ground missile.[8] Incorporates a domestic Chinese helmet mounted sight that is compatible with anti-tank missiles such as HJ-8/9/10, as well as light anti-ship missiles such as C-701/703 and TL-1/10 when they are used as air-to-surface missiles, air-to-air missiles such as TY-90 and other MANPAD missiles for self-defense.[9]
H410A
Version with 635 kW WZ8C turbo-shaft engines. First flight September 2001, CAAC certification 10 July 2002. One is currently being fitted with a new Mast-Mounted Sighting (MMS) system.
H425
Newest VIP version of the H410A.
H450
Projected development.
WZ-19
Stealthy attack helicopter development with tandem seats. The WZ-19 shares the same power plant as the WZ-9WA.

Operators

A Malian Air Force Z-9B coming in to land
A Z-9 abroad the aft-deck of Type 054A frigate Yiyang during a bilateral counter-piracy exercise between China and the US in 2012
 Bolivia
 Bangladesh
 Cambodia
 Cameroon
 China
 Ghana
 Kenya
 Laos
 Mali
 Mauritania
 Namibia
 Pakistan
 Zambia

Specifications (Z-9B)

Data from [14]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

2 fixed 23 mm Type 23-2 (AM-23) cannon on attack variants. Pylons for rockets, gun pods, ET52 torpedo, HJ-8 anti-tank missiles, or TY-90 air-to-air missiles.

Accident

On July 14, 2014, Cambodian Air Force's Z-9 crashed into a flooded quarry in the southwest of Phnom Penh, during a military training. This accident caused 4 deaths and 1 serious injury. Investigation has begun as the helicopter has been taken out of water. Officials claimed that there was no technical issue before its take off.[15]

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ Parsch, Andreas; Aleksey V. Martynov (2008). "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles". Designation-Systems.net. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  2. ↑ "哈尔滨飞机工业集团有限责任公司". Hafei.com. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  3. ↑ "Z-9 Utility Helicopter". SinoDefence.com. 2007-01-06.
  4. ↑ "China Approves Re-engine Z-9 Twin." Flight International, July 2002. p. 43.
  5. ↑ "Z-9C (AS 565 Panther) Naval Helicopter". SinoDefence.com. 2007-07-28. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  6. ↑ http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=87912[]
  7. ↑ "Harbin Z-9W Attack Helicopter". Army Technology. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  8. ↑ "Z-9WA attack helicopter". AirForceWorld.com. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  9. ↑ Z-9 HMS
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "World Air Forces 2015". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  11. ↑ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/bangladesh/navy-equipment.htm
  12. ↑ "Ghana Air Force receives Z-9 helicopters".
  13. ↑ "Aged air force inventory highlights Mali's weakness". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  14. ↑ Gordon, Yefim; Dmitry Komissarov (2008). Chinese aircraft. Manchester: Hikoki. ISBN 9 781902 109046.
  15. ↑ Cheang, Sopheng (14 July 2014). "Copter Crash Kills 2 Cambodian Military Generals". Associated Press. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
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