This week, the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2024 exhibition at Air Force Base Waterkloof in South Africa is witnessing a significant display of Chinese aerospace and defence capabilities. The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) have brought the Changhe Z-10ME attack helicopter to the event, marking a major milestone in China’s defence outreach.
Arrival and Display
The Z-10ME, believed to be the first company-owned prototype, arrived aboard a Xian Y-20A heavy transport aircraft.
Development and Capabilities
The Z-10, China’s first dedicated attack helicopter, took its maiden flight in 2003 and entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) in 2009. The helicopter’s conceptual design was initially provided by Kamov engineers in the 1990s, with further development spurred by foreign assistance on a civil helicopter project. The Z-10 follows a conventional attack helicopter layout but incorporates some stealth technology, enhancing its battlefield survivability.
The upgraded Z-10ME, first revealed in 2018, has been integrated into PLA operations and is rumoured to have Pakistan as its first export customer. The Z-10ME boasts significant enhancements in armour, firepower, and avionics, making it a formidable asset in modern warfare.
Technical Specifications
The Z-10ME is powered by more robust WZ-9G engines, delivering 1,200 kW of power with upturned exhausts to reduce infrared signatures. It is equipped with a chin-mounted 23 mm cannon and a nose-mounted electro-optical (EO) pod. Additionally, it features a millimetre-wave fire control radar above the main rotor and can carry up to 1,500 kg of weapons, including rockets, air-to-air, and air-to-surface missiles.
China developed the HJ-10 anti-tank missile specifically for the Z-10, which can carry up to eight AKD-10 or HJ-10 missiles in the anti-armour role. Other armaments include TY-90 air-to-air missiles and rocket pods.
Advanced Features
The six-ton (empty weight) helicopter is heavily armoured and equipped with a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS), Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), and countermeasures dispensing systems. The Z-10ME also has modified intakes for sandy and dusty conditions and revised exhausts to make it less vulnerable to surface-to-air missiles.
Strategic Implications
By showcasing the Z-10ME at AAD 2024, China is signalling its intent to strengthen its role as a defence supplier to African countries and beyond. This move highlights China’s growing influence in the global defence market and its strategic interest in expanding geopolitical ties, particularly in Africa.
The presence of the Z-10ME at AAD 2024 not only demonstrates China’s advanced military technology but also its commitment to fostering international defence cooperation and partnerships.