Z-21: new Chinese attack helicopter

Suddenly, a new attack helicopter was noted this week in the skies of China. The type is believed to be called the Z-21, although its nickname in the west is already WZ-64 for obvious reasons (although we must credit the Mil design bureau for providing the nose design).

Comparing the initial photo’s, the rotor and tail seems to be copied from the Z-20 (The Sikorsky UH-60 look-alike). Given the longer existing rumours, design bureau 602 Institute and HAIG and CHAIC contributed to the design suggesting the powerplant might be equal to the Z-20 powerplant.

The helicopter pictured (if genuine) had a machine gun on its belly and pitot static tubes on the nose for flight testing. It can be expected that the helicopter is intended to replace the smaller and lighter Z-10 helicopter, the first of which first flew in April 2003.