Recently published by Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) on social media, images show the new Z-21 attack helicopter of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China in an unknown location. The helicopter, resembling the AH-64D/E Apache attack helicopters of the United States Army, conducted its first test flight in March of this year. Notably, unlike the last images that circulated months earlier, this time what appears to be its new registration number, designated as 6232, has been identified.
Although further details about this new development in China’s aerospace industry are still unknown, the new attack aircraft is designated as Z-21, following the naming convention of other military helicopters developed and manufactured for the PLA. Among these are the current Z-10 attack helicopter produced by CAIC and the Z-20 transport helicopters from Harbin, the latter known as a derivative design of the H-60/S-70 Black Hawk.
As of today, it is clear that many details of this new helicopter remain classified by the propaganda apparatus of the Asian Giant. Consequently, its characteristics and capabilities can only be inferred from the images that emerge, which subsequently go viral.
One of the main identifying features, like those of attack helicopters, is the arrangement of two tandem seats in its cockpit. Other design elements based on the Z-20 include its tail section, which has a nearly identical horizontal stabilizer. On the sides of the fuselage, two small wings are visible, which serve as support for the pylons where the future armament of the Z-21 will be mounted. Presumably, this will include a wide range of air-to-air guided missiles for self-defense, air-to-ground missiles, and various types and calibers of rocket launchers.
Other details, such as its propulsion system, are said by Chinese users to take an adapted version of the WZ-10 turboshaft engine found in the Z-20, which has a power output of 2,682 SHP.
Internet users have pointed out that among the electro-optical detection and targeting systems housed in the nose, the Z-21 will integrate a millimeter-wave search and targeting radar at the top of the rotor mast, similar to the Apache. They also mentioned that the armament includes short-range air-to-air missiles, such as the PL-90 and even the modern PL-10, as well as anti-tank missiles and guided and unguided rockets. It also features a 23 mm automatic cannon mounted under the fuselage.
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