Z-11 Whisky Bravo will enter Chinese army service soon

Global Times reported that China's domestically developed Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) Z-11WB armed helicopter is expected to enter service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The helicopter, largely based on the Eurocopter AS350B Écureuil, will play a role in ground attack, reconnaissance and antiterrorism missions.

A Z-11WB was seen on China Central Television programme with clear PLA markings on a production line. Looking into history with likewise footage of other Chinese military hardware, it is expected that the Z-11WB will likely enter PLA service soon. Scramble assess that the Z-11WB will not play a key role (as China reports), following the armed Z-9W, the dedicated Z-10 attack helicopter was introduced. And the well-known Mi-171 is used as an armed assult helicopter. Undoubtly, the Z-11WB continued its test programma and all conceivable test flight were executed (also to get it ready for export). The Z-11WB will most probably get a Z-11W designation within the PLA, in stead of the manufacture type designation Z-11WB. 

The Z-11 project started with Eurocopter blue prints already in 1989. Its first flight was reported in  December 1994. Six years later, in October 2000, CAIC announced the completion of the test programme. The first basic Z-11s were introduced within the PLA in 2003. The more recent WB variant, with a first flight in 2015, is equipped with a an electro optical system underneath the cockpit, a redesigned cockpit, and is able to launch small unmanned aerial systems. The helicopter can be armed with air-to-ground weapons, like anti-tank missiles and guided and unguided rockets. The helicopter is also equipped with a 7.62mm machine gun.

From 2016, CAIC is offering the Z-11E on the domestic market. In October 2019, the first contract was capatilized when two Z-11E found their way to Africa.