Harbin Z-20


The Harbin Z-20 is a medium-lift utility helicopter produced by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group. It was first flown on 23 December 2013 and has a maximum takeoff weight in the range of. The Z-20 can operate from locations up to in altitude as well as from the Liaoning aircraft carrier. It is regarded to be comparable in performance to the US-made Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which civilian variant Sikorsky S-70C-2 has been used by the People's Liberation Army since 1984.

Development

The People's Liberation Army Air Force has had a requirement for a high-altitude medium utility helicopter that can operate in the mountainous regions in China since the 1980s. In 1984, the PLAAF acquired 24 Sikorsky S-70C-2s with enhanced General Electric T700-701A engines, which have more superior performance than the Mi-17V5 that were later purchased. These 24 Sikorsky S-70C-2 helicopters were civilian version of the military UH-60 Black Hawk, but went straight into service with the People’s Liberation Army. China probably could have purchased more Sikorsky if not for the fallout from the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests that resulted in an EU and US arms embargo. This led to the development of an indigenous so-called "10-tonne helicopter project" that started in 2006, and the Z-20 made its first flight on 23 December 2013.
Helicopter production in China received a massive boost after the 2008 Sichuan earthquakes highlighted the value of helicopters in humanitarian missions. In addition to the PLAAF, the Z-20 will likely be used by other services in the People's Liberation Army. It could fill the role of a multi-role naval helicopter for the People's Liberation Army Navy that is small enough to be interoperable across all PLAN vessels while still have a full suite of anti-submarine warfare capabilities installed; something that the current Ka-28 and Changhe Z-8/Changhe Z-18 are incapable of.

Design

Some sources have suggested that the Z-20 is a copy of the Black Hawk and thus have given it the moniker "Copyhawk". The speculation arose from the fact that the PLAAF had bought 24 Sikorsky S-70-C2, which the Black Hawk was based on. There were also speculations that linked the design of Z-20 to the Black Hawk that was abandoned by US special forces in Pakistan during the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on 1 May 2011. According to sources, Pakistan had allowed Chinese officials to examine wreckage of the abandoned Black Hawk.
While the Z-20 bears a strong resemblance to the S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk series, there are several key differences including a five-bladed main rotor and more angular tail-to-fuselage joint frame, giving it greater lift, cabin capacity, and endurance than the Black Hawk. It also has a fly-by-wire design as well as fairings installed aft of the engine exhausts and on the tail spine, which are likely housings for satellite communications or the BeiDou satellite navigation system. Aviation Week points out that China may had decided it was better to improve upon the proven known design of the 1970s S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk that fits PLA operational requirements than to assume developmental risks. This was consistent with the strategy that China used with the development of the Z-8 and Z-9 helicopters.
The Z-20 is believed to be powered by the domestic WZ-10 turboshaft engine providing 1,800 kW, compared to the GE T700-701D engine that produces 1,500 kW on the S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk. In addition to a more powerful engine than the S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk, the Z-20 incorporates new technologies that reduce weight and improve lift. These features enable it to conduct operations at altitudes up to 4,000 m.

Operators