The Harbin Z-19, also called WZ-19, is a Chinese light reconnaissance/attack helicopter developed by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force and the Ground Force Army Aviation.[3] It is a specialized combat variant of the Harbin Z-9, which is a licence-built version of the Eurocopter Dauphin.[4]
Z-19 | |
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Harbin Z-19 making a low-level pass at Zhuhai Airshow 2012 | |
Role | Reconnaissance and attack helicopter Type of aircraft |
Manufacturer | Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation |
First flight | 2011 |
Introduction | 2012 |
Status | In service[1] |
Primary user | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
Produced | 2011-Present |
Number built | 186+ [2] |
Developed from | Harbin Z-9W |
The Z-19 is an upgraded tandem seat version of the Harbin Z-9W (similar to the development of the Bell AH-1 Cobra from the UH-1), using mechanical components derived from the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin series, as the Z-9 series are license-built versions of the Dauphin helicopters.[4]
The Z-19 features a fenestron tail, reducing the noise level and therefore allowing it to achieve some level of acoustic stealthiness. The exhausts have also been designed to reduce the infrared signature.[5] The helicopter is equipped with a millimeter-wave fire-control radar on top of its four-blade rotor.[6] Unlike most other attack helicopters, it lacks a nose-mounted machine gun or autocannon.
The Z-19 also features armor plating, crash-resistant seats, and a turret with FLIR, TV, and laser rangefinder.[5] It is also equipped with advanced helmet mounted sight (HMS),[7] which looks different from that of the CAIC WZ-10.
The general designer of the WZ-19 was Wu Ximing (吴希明) of the 602nd Research Institute, one of the Chinese top scientists involved in the 863 Program, after graduating from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1984. Wu had earlier participated in the designs of the armed version of the transport helicopters Z-8A, Z-11 and WZ-9. He also participated in the development and flight testing of another Chinese attack helicopter, the CAIC WZ-10. At the 9th Zhuhai Airshow held in November 2012, Aviation Industry Corporation of China formally announced the official names of the WZ-10 and WZ-19 at a televised news release conference, with both attack helicopters named after fictional characters in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. WZ-10 is named as Fierce Thunderbolt (Pili Huo, 霹雳火), the nickname of Qin Ming, while WZ-19 is named as Black Whirlwind (Hei Xuanfeng, 黑旋风), the nickname of Li Kui.[8][9]
Harbin is developing the Z-19, which is expected to function and support with a heavier attack helicopter, the CAIC WZ-10, in the near future.[5] Export variants will be designated WZ-19 (Wǔzhuāng Zhíshēngjī, 武装直升机 - attack helicopter), but aircraft used in China will be designated Z-19 as WZ is used by the PLAAF for UAVs (WZ - Wúrén Zhēnchá, 无人侦察 (Unmanned Reconnaissance)).[10]
Data from [citation needed]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
Chinese People's Liberation Army helicopter designations | |
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Zhí "Z" (Helicopter) | |
1 Unknown/not assigned |
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