CHINA'S NEWEST ATTACK HELICOPTER - WZ-10

Manufactured by Changehe Aircraft Industries Corporation, the WZ-10 was first introduced to the People's Liberation Army in December 2010. It is categorized as an attack helicopter and designed mainly for anti-tank/anti-ground activities with a subsidiary air-to-air role. 

The development of the WZ-10 was the result of failed foreign ventures in the late 1900's to purchase helicopters dedicated to meet the "attack" role. China realized that they needed a solution to counter large armoured formations and their fleet of civilian helicopters converted to military roles were simply inadequate. At that time, China did not have a strong aviation industry and so sought after foreign produced aircraft, evaluating several candidates such as the Italian Agusta A129 Mangusta and the US AH-1 Cobras. A contract was secured for the latter but this was subsequently cancelled due to the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the ensuing arms embargo. Further offers to the Russians and Bulgarians for the Mil Mi-28 were rejected. 

What was left over were the indigenous programs: the Armed Helicopter Development Team (武装直升机开发工作小组) and the China Medium Helicopter (CHM) program. The Gulf War ushered in a new urgency for a dedicated air-to-ground attack helicopter and in 2000, China abandoned all ventures on foreign purchase with another failed deal with the Russians. The WZ-10 program accelerated and in April 2003, a prototype made its maiden flight at Lumeng airfield. In the coming years, numerous prototypes were built and by January 2006 after three rigorous testing phases, weaponry and sensory tests that included live ammunition were taking place.  
Avionics

The WZ-10 incorporates top end technology in its avionics. The helicopter uses a holographic HUD and the first indigenous helicopter to use HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick). Also, unlike previous home brewed helicopters, the WZ-10 navigation systems are fully integrated and many instruments are designed to be easily replaced by upcoming technology that is still in development. 

The electronic warfare system of the WZ-10 is the first Chinese system that integrates all the key components: radar, radar warning receivers, laser warning receivers, electronic support measures, and electronic counter-measures. The aircraft also has an advanced electro-optics system comprising a colour daytime TV camera, night vision camera, imaging infrared camera, and a laser targeting system. The entire system is integrated with the HMS (Helmet Mounted Sight) system. 

Engines

The WZ-10 is currently powered by foreign engines as it was clear Chinese manufacturers will not be able to deliver a suitable powerplant for the helicopter. However, the future long term engines will all be indigenously built. 

Weaponry

The WZ-10 has a modular design concept and can be armed with a variety of weaponry, of Soviet and Western origin. The helicopter's armament consists of a chin-mounted heavy autocannon (30 mm calibre) and 4 hardpoints on the stub wings. Each hardpoint can hold up to 4 missiles. Smaller calibre machine guns and automated grenade launchers can also be mounted in the turret form in lieu of the autocannon.

Scandal 

In June of this year, the United States charged United Technologies and two of its subsidiaries for selling the necessary engines codes to operate the WZ-10. The Chinese government denied buying the software but United Technologies agreed to settle the charges for more than $75 million (Yahoo News). 

Specifications (jczs)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 14.15 m (ft)
• Rotor diameter: 13.0 m (ft)
• Height: 3.85 m (ft)
• Empty weight: 5,540 kg (lb)
• Loaded weight: 7,000 kg (lb)
• Useful load: 1,500 kg (lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 7,000+ kg (lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × WZ-9 turboshaft, 1000 kw (1340 shp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 300 km/h
• Cruise speed: 270 km/h
• Ferry range: 800 km
• Service ceiling: 6,400 m (ft)
• Rate of climb: over 12 m/s (ft/min)

Anti Gravity Helicopter?!

Helicopter Race - A Look at Future Helicopters

Right now, Eurocopter and Sikorsky are competing to create a helicopter than can fly at speeds similar to turbo-prop powered aircraft but have full hovering capabilities of a conventional helicopter.

Both have come up with innovative designs.

Eurocopter's X-3 sports a pair of turbine engines as well as a pair of forward-facing propellers mounted on small wings just under the rotor.

Sikorsky's X-2, uses a pair of counter-rotating main rotors and a rear facing propeller, where a tail rotor on a conventional helicopter is supposed to be, to create that extra push.

Both helicopters look increasingly promising, although Sikorsky's two-seat slim design seem to be veering to a more attack-helicopter like concept while Eurocopter's X-3, with its greater cargo space, could be used more as a transport or search-and-rescue aircraft.

Sikorsky's design has recently reached the 250 knot point whereas Eurocopter, a bit behind, plans to gradually work their way to 180 knots by December. Their hope is have the X-3 eventually fly at cruise speeds of 220 knots.

Hughes Helicopters AH-64 Apache

A United States Army AH-64 Apache (Probably the Longbow variant.), providing air support for the Army soliders of Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, as well as soldiers from the Iraqi army's 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Division, during a raid in Remagen, Iraq. (This D.o.D. photograph was by Petty Officer 3rd Class Shawn Hussong, United States Navy, February 24th, 2006.) (Released.).

The Hughes Helicopters AH-64 Apache, a successor to the Bell Helicopter Textron AH-1 Cobra , is the principal attack helicopter for the United States Army. It operates in any weather, day, or night, and has participated in almost every major United States Operation in the Middle East, since the first AH-64 was delivered to the United States Army in November, 1993.

Wikipedia.

Development...

After the cancellation of the Lockheed Attack Helicopter, AH-56 Cheyenne in favor of the United States Air Force, and Marine Corps. new developments, such as the McDonnel Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, and the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, the United States Army sought a helicopter to fill in the anti-armor attack role that would fall under the Army command (After the Key West Agreement, which was established in 1948, the Army was forbidden to command fixed winged aircraft.). It's requirements would be that the new Attack Helicopter will have a better firepower, range, and performance compared to the old AH-1 Cobra, with the maneuverability to fly nap-of-the-earth (N.o.E.) missions, which means that it can fly at a very low altitude, thus lessening its detection by radar, and Surface-to-Air (S.A.M.s) missiles. In 1972, the United States Army issued a request for proposals for an Advance Attack Helicopter (A.A.H.).

Five manufacturers submitted proposals: Hughes, Lockheed, Bell, Boeing-Vertol (Co-operated with Grumman.), and Sikorsky. In 1973, the finalists were selected. (Selection was by the United States Department of Defense.). They were Bell's Model 409/YAH-63A, and Hughes Toolco Aircraft Division's (Later renamed to Hughes Helicopters, which was then bought by Lockheed.) Model 77/YAH-64A.

Design...

The AH-64 Apache has two General Electric T700 turboshaft Engines, with high-mounted exhausts that are on either side of the rotor shaft. Its main rotor, as well as the rear, have four blades, which are more damage tolerant than Bell's YAH-63A, part of the reason why Hughes won. In the crew compartment, the pilot seats at the rear, while the co-pilot at the front. Both the fuel tanks, and the compartment are armed to sustain 23 mm round hits. The stub-wing pylons are used to carry a variety of rockets, and missiles.

As the Apache is an anti-armor attack helicopter, it has to endure in front-line environments. That means that it should be an all-weather capable aircraft that can be flown anytime of the day, which it is. Accomplishing these objectives requires the Apache to have avionics, and electronics such as the Pilot Night Vision System (P.N.V.S..), the Target Acquisition, and Designation System (T.A.D.S..), Global Positioning System (G.P.S..), passive infrared countermeasures, and the Integrated Helmet, And Display Sight System (I.H.A.D.S.S..).

Specifications. Wikipedia.

General Characteristics...

Crew: 2: pilot, CPG (co-pilot/gunner.).
Length: 58.17 ft (17.73 m.) (with both rotors turning.).
Rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m.).
Height: 12.7 ft (3.87 m.).
Disc area: 1,809.5 ft² (168.11 m².).
Empty weight: 11,387 lb (5,165 kg.).
Loaded weight: 18,000 lb (8,000 kg.).
Max takeoff weight: 21,000 lb (9,500 kg.).
Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-701 and later upgraded to T700-GE-701C & T700-GE-701D (1990-today.) turboshafts, -701: 1,690 shp, -701C: 1,890 shp -701D 2,000 shp (-701: 1,260 kW, -701C: 1,490 kW.) each.
Fuselage length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m.).
Rotor systems: 4 blade main rotor, 4 blade tail rotor in non-orthogonal alignment.

Performance...

Never exceed speed: 197 knots (227 mph, 365 km/h.).
Maximum speed: 158 knots (182 mph, 293 km/h.).
Cruise speed: 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h.).
Combat radius: 260 nm (300 mi, 480 km.).
Ferry range: 1,024 nm (1,180 mi, 1,900 km.).
Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m.).
Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s.).
Disc loading: 9.80 lb/ft² (47.90 kg/m².).
Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (310 W/kg.).

Armament...

Guns: 1× M230 30 mm (1.18 in.) cannon, 1,200 rounds.
Rockets: Hydra 70 FFAR rockets.
Missiles: combination of AGM-114 Hellfire, AIM-92 Stinger, AIM-9 Sidewinder.

Ever heard of the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche?

The Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche. Note the slender body of this helicopter, which is to prevent, or lessen the possibility of detection, either by radar, or human eyes. There is a chance that this is in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the Comanche's first flight took place there. (No date, location, or elaborate description available. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.) http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=158658&page=12

The Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche, first flew on January 4th, 1996, was the most rigorously tested, and evaluated helicopter, and it was also the best in the World. Highly maneuverable, the Comanche was intended not as to replace the Hughes Helicopters AH-64 Apache, but play a complimentary role, as a Reconnaissance chopper. However, it does carry light weapons too, obviously for self-defense, and not to carry assaults like the Apache.

Development...

The Comanche was developed due to the demand of a dedicated Reconnaissance chopper that is much more efficient than the one the United States Army already uses, which is the Bell Helicopter Textron OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. The Warrior, only an upgrade version of an observation helicopter of the 1970's, was highly vulnerable, and can be easily detected with radar, or just the naked eye. The Army needed something better. That is the reason why this chopper went on the drawing board, and on January 4th, 1996, the first prototype flew in the air.
The Army had planned to purchase about one thousand, and three hundred RAH-66 Comanches to fill both the Reconnaissance, and Light Attack roles, with the first being operational in 2004. However, it was canceled in favour of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which have already proven themselves in Afghanistan, and Iraq. The cancellation date was February 23rd, 2004. The other reason for its cancellation was the United States Army needed money to repair or improve its aging fleet of helicopters, but by the time the Comanche program was canceled, a total of US $8, oo0, 000, 000 had been spent on it.

One the two Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche prototypes. Probably "the DUKE", or 94-0327. There is a high chance this is in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the first flight of the Comanche took place there. (No date, location, or elaborate description available. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.)
http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/aviation/aircraft/rah-66.jpg

The two only prototypes of the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche ever built is now in United States Army Aviation Museum located at Fort Tucker.

Design...

The Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche, intended to be a scout helicopter, is designed to avoid detection as much as possible, as well as be extremely agile. The airframe of the Comanche is state-of-the-art, able to sustain huge strains in maneuvers unimaginable to experienced helicopter pilots. It also has radar-absorbent materials, which reduces even more, its already low radar signature. Reducing even further the chance of being detected is its relatively low engine sound, and infrared signature. Its weapons system, and avionics, present in the newest, and deadliest variant of the Apache Attack Helicopter, the Apache Longbow, while make the enemy quiver, wherever he is.

Specifications. Wikipedia.

General Characteristics...

Crew: 2.
Length: 46.85 ft (14.28 m.).
Rotor diameter: 39.04 ft (11.90 m.).
Height: 11.06 ft (3.37 m.).
Disc area: 1,197 sq ft (111 sq m.).
Empty weight: 8,690 lb (3,942 kg.).
Loaded weight: 10,597 lb (4,806 kg.).
Max takeoff weight: 17,175 lb (7,790 kg.).
Powerplant: 2× LHTEC T800 turboshafts, 1,432 hp (1,068 kW.) each.
Fuselage length: 43.31 ft (13.20 m.).
Rotor systems: 5 blades on main rotor.

Performance...

Maximum speed: 175 knots (201 mph, 324 km/h.).
Cruise speed: 165 kt (190 mph, 306 km/h.).
Range: 262 nmi (302 mi, 485 km.) (internal fuel.).
Service ceiling: 14,980 ft (4,566 m.).
Rate of climb: 1,418 ft/min (7.20 m/s.).

Armament...

1× 20 mm XM301 three-barrel cannon mounted in a Turreted Gun System (500 round capacity.).
Internal bays: 6 Hellfires or 6 Stingers (ATAS.).
Optional stub wings: 8 Hellfire, 16 Stinger or 56 x Hydra 70 2.75 in (70 mm.) air-to-ground rockets.