Harbin Z-9

The Harbin Z-9 (NATO reporting name "Haitun", for Dolphin) is a Chinese military utility helicopter with civilian variants. It is a licensed variant of the French Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, and is manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation.

Design and development

The first Z-9 flew in 1981, and was built in China from components supplied by Aérospatiale as part of a production patent bought on 15 October 1980. On 16 January 1992, the indigenous variant Z-9B, constructed with 70% Chinese-made parts, flew successfully. The flight test was completed in November 1992 and the design was finalized a month later. Z-9B production began in 1993 and entered PLA service in 1994.

The Z-9B features an 11-blade Fenestron faired-in tail rotor with wider-chord, all-composite blades replacing the 13-blade used in the original AS365N. As a light tactical troop transport, the Z-9 has the capacity to transport 10 fully armed soldiers. Generally the Z-9 is identical to the AS365N Dauphin, though later variants of the Z-9 incorporate more composite materials to increase structural strength and lower radar signature.

The helicopter has a four-blade main rotor, with two turboshaft engines mounted side by side on top of the cabin with engine layout identical to the AS365N. The Z-9 teardrop-shaped body features a tapered boom to the tail fin, with rounded nose and stepped-up cockpit, retractable gear, and all flat bottom.

In 2002, Harbin obtained Chinese certification for the new H410A variant of the Z-9, which features more powerful Turbomeca Arriel 2C turboshaft engines; Eurocopter issued official objections to Harbin's decision to continue production in spite of the license-production agreement having expired, leading to a period of highly sensitive international negotiations to resolve the dispute.

Variants

An armed variant has been fielded by the PLA since the early 1990s as the WZ-9 or Z-9W, with pylons fitted for anti-tank missiles. These helicopters lack the maneuverability and survivability of a proper attack helicopter, and merely provide a stopgap during the development of the WZ-10. The latest armed version, the Z-9W, was introduced in 2005 and has night attack capabilities, with an under-nose low-light TV and infra-red observing and tracking unit.

The naval version introduced in the 1990s is known as the Z-9C. As well as SAR and ASW duties, the Z-9C can be fitted with an X-band KLC-1 surface search radar to detect surface targets beyond the range of shipborne radar systems.

;Z-9: License-produced variant of the French AS.365N1.

;Z-9A: Kit-built variant of the AS.365N2.

;Z-9A-100: Prototypes for domestic market versions with WZ8A engines. First flight 16 January 1992, approved 30 December 1992.

;Z-9B: Initial version based on Z-9A-100. Multi-role.

;Z-9C: License-produced variant of the Eurocopter AS.565 Panther for the PLA Naval Air Force.

;Z-9EC: ASW variant produced for the Pakistan Naval Air Arm. Configured with pulse-compression radar, low frequency dipping sonar, radar warning receiver and doppler navigation system, it is also armed with torpedoes for use aboard Pakistan Navy's ''Zulfiquar''-class frigates.

;Z-9EH: Transport, emergency and/or passenger variant.

;Z-9W (WZ-9): Armed version with optional pylon-mounted armament, gyro stabilization and roof-mounted optical sight. Export designation Z-9G, roof-mounted sight optional. First flown in 1987, with the first weapons tests in 1989.

;Z-9WA: A newer night-capable version has been built with nose-mounted FLIR. July 2011, Xinhua News Agency released a photo of Z-9WA firing ADK10 air-to-ground missile. Incorporates a domestic Chinese helmet mounted sight that is compatible with anti-tank missiles such as HJ-8 /9/ 10, as well as light anti-ship missiles such as C-701/703 and TL-1/ 10 when they are used as air-to-surface missiles, air-to-air missiles such as TY-90 and other MANPAD missiles for self-defense.

;H410A: Version with 635 kW WZ8C turbo-shaft engines. First flight September 2001, CAAC certification 10 July 2002. One is currently being fitted with a new Mast-Mounted Sighting (MMS) system.

;H425: Newest VIP version of the H410A.

;H450: Projected development.

; WZ-19: Attack helicopter development with tandem seats. The WZ-19 shares the same powerplant as the WZ-9WA.

Operators

;
*Bangladesh Navy (on order)
;
*Bolivian Army
;
*Cambodian Air Force
* Cambodian Gendarmerie
;
*Cameroon Air Force
;
*People's Liberation Army Air Force
* People's Liberation Army Ground Air Force
* People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
** Type 052D destroyer
** Type 053 frigate, Type 053H3 frigate, Type 054 frigate, Type 054A frigate (Z-9C)
** Type 056 corvette (Z-9C)
;
* Djiboutian Air Force
;
*Ghana Air Force
;
*Kenya Defence Forces
;

* Laotian Air Force
;
* Mali Air Force
;
* Mauritanian Air Force
;
*Namibian Air Force
;
* Pakistan Naval Air Arm
;
*Zambian Air Force

Specifications (Z-9B)

See also

References

External links

AirForceWorld.com Z-9 Helicopter Family

www.sinodefence.com

{{Chinese Military Aircraft

1990s Chinese attack aircraft
Military helicopters
Harbin aircraft
1990s Chinese helicopters
1990s Chinese military utility aircraft
China–France relations
Twin-turbine helicopters
Aircraft first flown in 1981