After much hype and not a few hoax images, the WZ-10 attack helicopter appears to be gaining ground with more recent photos being generally more credible.
Generally analogous with the Apache and European Tiger attack helicopters, the new helicopter could be a key component in China’s anti-armor plan for any Taiwan invasion. Although Taiwan’s armor is modest, being mostly US made up of M-60A3 and M-48 main battle tanks, China’s ability to counter them with its own armor is open to doubt – not because current generation Chinese tanks aren’t good, but because of the logistical problems of landing them in sufficient numbers. Together with man portable anti-tank missiles, the new WZ-10 helicopter gives the Chinese a credible anti-tank threat to counterbalance Taiwan’s armor advantage.
A credible images of the WZ-10 are shown below:
(Seen hovering in the background as a newly built J-11 Flanker takes off, still in yellow primer)
The WZ-10 is likely to be armed with HJ-8 or HJ-9 tube launched wire guided anti-tank missiles generally equivalent to TOW. The latter is not confirmed to be deployed on helicopters but is generally superior to the HJ-8 is a likely candidate for the new helicopter. Rumored developments include laser beam riding and radar beam (millimetric) riding variants. The HJ-9 has a range of 5km (2.5km at night) and is thought to be able to penetrate 1,200mm of rolled-steel armor (universal measure of armor penetration). There are also rumors that China is developing a new anti-tank missile in a similar class to the Hellfire but these are unconfirmed.
The WZ-10 is also likely to carry the TY-90 anti-helicopter missile which is arguably superior to the Stinger, at least in concept and size.
Although the new helicopter is almost certainly not in widespread service yet, it will be a very real and substantial threat to US land forces and helicopters, including Apache, if the US should become embroiled in a conventional war between China and Taiwan in the coming years.
Generally analogous with the Apache and European Tiger attack helicopters, the new helicopter could be a key component in China’s anti-armor plan for any Taiwan invasion. Although Taiwan’s armor is modest, being mostly US made up of M-60A3 and M-48 main battle tanks, China’s ability to counter them with its own armor is open to doubt – not because current generation Chinese tanks aren’t good, but because of the logistical problems of landing them in sufficient numbers. Together with man portable anti-tank missiles, the new WZ-10 helicopter gives the Chinese a credible anti-tank threat to counterbalance Taiwan’s armor advantage.
A credible images of the WZ-10 are shown below:
(Seen hovering in the background as a newly built J-11 Flanker takes off, still in yellow primer)
The WZ-10 is likely to be armed with HJ-8 or HJ-9 tube launched wire guided anti-tank missiles generally equivalent to TOW. The latter is not confirmed to be deployed on helicopters but is generally superior to the HJ-8 is a likely candidate for the new helicopter. Rumored developments include laser beam riding and radar beam (millimetric) riding variants. The HJ-9 has a range of 5km (2.5km at night) and is thought to be able to penetrate 1,200mm of rolled-steel armor (universal measure of armor penetration). There are also rumors that China is developing a new anti-tank missile in a similar class to the Hellfire but these are unconfirmed.
The WZ-10 is also likely to carry the TY-90 anti-helicopter missile which is arguably superior to the Stinger, at least in concept and size.
Although the new helicopter is almost certainly not in widespread service yet, it will be a very real and substantial threat to US land forces and helicopters, including Apache, if the US should become embroiled in a conventional war between China and Taiwan in the coming years.
