Development of Z-20 variants in full swing for PLA
The PLA is exploring new missions for the Z-20 medium helicopter, as the aircraft looks set to become the backbone of rotary-winged fleets in China.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) views the Z-20 platform as pivotal to its developing rotary-winged fleet, and this is being reflected in more examples and variants appearing within China.
On 31 December 2020, an image emerged on the Chinese internet of a Z-20 carrying eight KD-10 antitank guided missiles (ATGM) on two outboard pylons per side, the first time the helicopter has been seen thus armed. The presence of an air data probe showed it to be a test flight.
The KD-10, China’s equivalent of the American Hellfire, is an air-launched version of the HJ-10 missile. The export version of
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