Chinese gift of 3 "Apache-lookalike" Z10 helis to Pakistan

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Stratofreighter
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Chinese gift of 3 "Apache-lookalike" Z10 helis to Pakistan

Post by Stratofreighter »

Or Tigre, or A129 Mangusta, or Rooivalk...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAIC_Z-10 indeed... :wink:
At least this isn't a utility helicopter (A109/Bo105/Mi-8/Gazelle) that got modified afterwards, this is a specialised antitank helicopter :!:


2015-01-07 10:46 (GMT+8)

China's reported decision to present Pakistan three Z-10 attack helicopters as a "gift" this year has raised suspicions of ulterior motives, says Duowei News, a US-based Chinese political news outlet.

Citing unconfirmed Russian media reports, Duowei claims that although Pakistan had shown an interest purchasing the Z-10s, which are designed by Russia's Kamov Design Bureau under contract from Beijing, China decided to give the helicopters to its "closest friend" for free.

The Z-10s, designed primarily for anti-tank missions with secondary air-to-air capabilities, will reportedly be added to the Pakistan Army aviation fleet and be deployed in the ongoing fight against terrorism in the country.

Some military experts have cast doubt on the effectiveness of the Z-10 on counterterrorism operations, saying that its WZ-9 operation engine has relatively low power as well as a smaller payload and weaker defensive capabilities in comparison to other attack helicopters.

Though there is still a sizable gap between the power systems of Z-10s and Apaches, the Chinese aircraft's body design and weapon system configurations are comparable to the world's most advanced attack helicopters, especially because of the excellent performance of its TY-90 air-to-air missiles.

For China, the "gift" to Pakistan could serve as a gift for the givers as well, as it might allow the PLA to see how the Z-10s perform in actual combat situations, providing valuable data for further research and development, Duowei said.

The decision to make the Z-10s a gift instead of selling them could therefore stem from Pakistan's limited defense budget and China's relatively robust arms industry, Duowei added.[/quote]
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subc ... 7&cid=1101
November 2024 update at FokkerNews.nl....
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