The Z-20
made its public debut during 1 October 2019 military parade in Beijing.
The naval
variant of China’s Z-20 helicopter aboard a destroyer during the summer. A
modified Z-20 with a foldaway tail rotor was first seen aboard the Type 055
guided-missile destroyer Nanchang in July. These are likely to become the
navy’s Z-20F and carry out anti-submarine duties.
The 10t-class
Harbin Z-20 medium helicopter achieved its maiden flight on 23 December 2013. The
type was approaching low-rate initial production. Clearly mimicking the Black
Hawk in appearance thanks to reverse engineering, the Z-20 is powered by twin
WZ-10 turboshafts.
China would argue
the helicopter is not a copy, since it has a five-bladed main rotor, fly-
by-wire controls and a glass cockpit. The PLA needs the Z-20 for high-altitude
operations in western China, plus the platform will likely enjoy multiple
applications such as air mobility for army troops, SAR missions and multirole
tasks for the PLA Navy.
China’s
domestically made utility helicopter, the Z-20, made its debut at the National
Day parade on Tuesday, a move that confirmed its active service status within
the Chinese military.
All equipment on
display in the parade is domestically made and in service, Major General Cai
Zhijun, deputy head of the office of the leading group for the military parade,
said at a press conference in August.
This means that
the Z-20 has already entered active service with the Chinese People’s
Liberation Army (PLA) following a lengthy trial phase.
China’s Ministry
of National Defense confirmed the development of the Z-20 in December 2013
after the chopper’s alleged first test flight was spotted in northeastern
China. Many pictures of the Z-20 have surfaced on the internet and Chinese
aerospace magazines since then.
The Z-20 is a
medium-lift utility helicopter that can adapt to different terrains and
weather, and is expected to be used by the army and navy, military experts told
the Global Times previously, noting that it can also operate on plateau areas
like in Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, where high elevations could
cause problems, including a lack of oxygen.
As a utility
helicopter it can be used in many types of missions, including personnel and
cargo transport, search and rescue, reconnaissance and anti-submarine, experts
said, noting that no other Chinese helicopter is as versatile as the Z-20.
Chinese navy tests new Z-20 helicopter for use on its warships
