The Changhe Z-18, also known as Z-8G, is a medium-lift

transport helicopter A military transport aircraft, military cargo aircraft or airlifter is a military-owned transport aircraft used to support military operations by airlifting troops and military equipment. Transport aircraft are crucial to maintaining supply ...

developed by

Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) () is a Chinese helicopter manufacturer and supplier to the People's Liberation Army, Chinese military. It is a member of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The company is based in ...

(CAIC) to replace the Changhe/Harbin Z-8.

Design and development

The Z-18 is a development of the Avicopter AC313 and Changhe/Harbin Z-8, both of which are developments of the

Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon The Aérospatiale (formerly Sud Aviation) SA 321 Super Frelon ("Super Hornet") is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by aerospace manufacturer Sud Aviation of France. It held the distinction of being the most powerful helicopte ...

. Notable changes include a redesigned lower fuselage similar to the AC313 which results in larger internal space. It also reportedly makes greater use of titanium and composites in its rotor blades and rotor, and replaces the Z-8's boat-shaped lower fuselage with a tail ramp for small vehicles. It has a

glass cockpit A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features an array of electronic (digital) flight instrument display device, displays, typically large liquid-crystal display, LCD screens, rather than traditional Analog device, analog dials and gauges ...

and is powered by three WZ-6C turboshafts. The Z-18's

maximum takeoff weight The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) or maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW) or maximum takeoff mass (MTOM) of an aircraft, also known as the maximum structural takeoff weight or maximum structural takeoff mass, is the maximum weight at which the p ...

(MTOW) is 13.8 tonnes. In late-2014, the only

People's Liberation Army Navy The People's Liberation Army Navy, also known as the People's Navy, PLA Navy or simply Chinese Navy, is the naval warfare military branch, branch of the People's Liberation Army, the national military of the People's Republic of China. It i ...

(PLAN) ships able to operate the helicopter at MTOW were aircraft carriers and large amphibious assault ships.

Operational history

The Z-18F

anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in the older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations ar ...

(ASW) version was undergoing testing by the end of August 2014. The army transport Z-18A first appeared in Chinese state media in December 2014, and reportedly underwent high-altitude testing on the Tibetan Plateau in January 2015. The Z-18A reached an altitude of during testing. The Z-18A was in service with the

People's Liberation Army Ground Force The People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF), also referred to as the PLA Army, is the army, land-based service branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and also its largest and oldest branch. The PLAGF can trace its lineage from 192 ...

(PLAGF) by January 2018.

Variants

*Z-18: Naval transport variant with folding tail boom and rotor blades. Features a nosed mounted weather radar and FLIR/TV turret. *Z-18A / Z-8G: Transport variant with extended nose expected to replace Z-8A/B. Features a nose mounted terrain-following radar. Multiple subvariants with differing equipment configurations such as: SATCOM fairing on tailboom, flare/chaff launchers + MAWS/RWR/LWR sensors on fuselage and sponsons, QJH001 machine gun on side door, ECM equipment on fuselage, retractable SAR radar replacing rear ramp etc. **Z-8L: Transport variant with wide-body fuselage and enlarged fuel

sponson Sponsons are projections extending from the sides of land vehicles, aircraft or watercraft to provide protection, Instantaneous stability, stability, storage locations, mounting points for weapons or other devices, or equipment housing. Watercra ...

s, first spotted in January 2019. The internal width of the load area has been increased from 1.8m to 2.4 m, making it larger than old Z-8 and SA321 variants. Features a nose mounted terrain-following radar. Multiple subvariants with differing equipment configurations such as: SATCOM fairing on tailboom, flare launchers + LWR/RWR sensors on sponsons, RWR/MAWS sensors on front fuselage, roof mounted FLIR etc. *Z-18F: ASW variant with chin-mounted surface search radar, dipping sonar, and may be equipped with up to four lightweight torpedoes and 32 sonobuoys. *Z-18J:

Airborne early warning An airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system is an airborne radar early warning system designed to detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles and other incoming projectiles at long ranges, as well as performing command and control of t ...

(AEW) variant, with a lowerable radar antenna in place of the ramp. The radar has a range of 320 km.

Operators

; *

People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation The People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation is the Army aviation, air arm of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force. Its principal mission is to provide close air support, air assault, transportation, and overall air assistance ...

(Z-18A) *

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force The People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF; zh, c=中国人民解放军海军航空兵, p = Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Hǎijūn Hángkōngbīng) is the naval aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army Navy. History Histor ...

(Z-18, Z-18F and Z-18J)

Specifications (Z-18F)

References