Search
Close this search box.

AVIC – Harbin Z-9

The Harbin Z-9 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.

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 manoeuvrability 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 ship born radar systems.

Specifications

Crew

1 or 2 pilots

Capacity

10 passengers

Or

1,900 kg (4,189 lb) payload internal,

1,600 kg (3,527 lb) payload slung

Length

12.11 m (39 ft 9 in)

Height

4.01 m (13 ft 2 in)

Empty weight

2,050 kg (4,519 lb)

Max take-off weight

4,100 kg (9,039 lb)

Powerplant

2 × Zhuzhou Aeroengine Factory WZ-8A turboshaft,

632 kW (848 hp) each

Main rotor diameter

11.94 m (39 ft 2 in)

Main rotor area

111.98 m2 (1,205.3 sq ft) swept area

Performance

Maximum speed

305 km/h (190 mph, 165 kn)

Cruise speed

260 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn)

Ferry range

1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi) with internal auxiliary tank

Endurance

5 hours

Service ceiling

4,500 m (14,800 ft)

Hovering Ceiling in ground effect

2,600 m (8,530 ft)

Hovering Ceiling out of ground effect

1,600 m (5,249 ft)

Armament

2 fixed 23 mm Type 23-2 (AM-23) cannon on attack variants

Pylons for rockets, gun pods, ET52 torpedo, HJ-8 anti-tank missiles

Or

TY-90 air-to-air missiles

 

Share on facebook