(Luft) Harbin Z-20 / Z-21

[Schneemann]

News zum neuen chinesischen Kampfhubschrauber Z-21 (ehem. Z-XX?), einem aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach Derivat des Z-20 (einem Mehrzweckhubschrauber).

China’s New Heavy Attack Helicopter Spotted For The First Time (Updated)

The latest Chinese attack helicopter is an apparent counterpart to the AH-64 Apache, based on the multirole Z-20 Black Hawk clone. [...]

The latest offering in China’s seemingly unrelenting military aircraft output appears to be a heavy attack helicopter design, broadly similar in concept to the U.S. AH-64 Apache and seemingly developed from the Z-20 multirole utility transport helicopter that is widely known as China's H-60/S-70 Black Hawk clone. While the status of the program — which may be designated Z-21 — is unclear, the suggestion is that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) wants to rapidly field a heavier and more capable attack helicopter than those it currently operates. [...]

While its bulk is in stark contrast to the slender body of the Z-10, currently China’s standard attack helicopter, the fuselage of the new helicopter is still much slimmer than the Z-20 from which it is apparently derived. This is to conform to the typical tandem two-seat configuration found on most modern attack helicopters. [...]

Signs of Z-20 DNA can be seen in the tail section, with that on the Z-21 appearing almost identical, with a slab-like un-swept horizontal stabilizer. [...] Unconfirmed claims from Chinese bloggers indicate that the Z-21 utilizes the same powerplant and rotor systems as found in the Z-20, which began life as a utility transport for the PLA Ground Force. The Z-20 has since been further developed for armed assault, as well as maritime missions, with more exotic concepts also being considered. Development of the Z-21 reportedly involves Harbin, responsible for the Z-20, as well as Changhe, which produces the Z-10 attack helicopter. The 602nd Research Institute, which played a key role in designing the Z-10, is also said to be involved in the development of the larger Z-21.

https://www.twz.com/land/chinas-new-heav...first-time

Schneemann