Z-8 (SA 321Ja Super Frelon) Multirole Helicopter

Last updated: 20 August 2007

The PLA Navy (PLAN) acquired 13 examples of the French-made SA 321Ja Super Frelon helicopter in the early 1970s. Originally operated from land-based airfields, these helicopters provided the PLAN with its initial airborne anti-submarine warfare (SAW) capability. On 3 January 1980, a Super Frelon flown by a PLA Naval Aviation crew made a successful landing on the flight deck of a navy replenishment ship. Four months later, four SA 321Ja Super Frelon helicopters joined the PLAN task force to the South Pacific to recover the re-entry capsule for China’s first full-range DF-5 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test.

In the early 1980s, the Super Frelons  were frequently used by the PLAN for ship-based operations in ASW, search and rescue (SAR), and maritime logistic supply roles. As the SA 321Ja was too large for China’s destroyers and frigates, they were mostly based on large-displacement replenishment ships or scientific research ships. If necessary, the helicopter could also land and take-off from the PLAN’s Type 072-II (NATO codename: Yuting class) tank landing ships (LST).

Changhe Aircraft Factory (now Changhe Aircraft Industry Group, CAIG) began to develop Z-8, a reverse-engineered copy of the SA 321Ja, in 1976. At least one Super Frelon was dissembled for study and survey. However, the development project was stopped in 1979 due to financial reasons and technical difficulties. The Z-8 project was resumed in 1985 by Changhe with its own funding, and the first prototype successfully flew in December 1985. The Z-8 entered the PLAN service for operational test and evaluation in 1989. The helicopter was finally certified for design finalisation in 1994. Low-rate production of the Z-8 began in the early 1990s, with 2~3 examples produced each month.

The Z-8 is identical to the SA 321Ja Super Frelon in appearance, with a six-bladed main rotor mounted above centre of the fuselage. Of the three turboshaft engines, two are mounted side-by-side atop the fuselage forward of main rotor, with the third behind the main rotor. Round air intakes are located above and behind cockpit. Boat-hull type fuselage mounts stabilising floats on either side of the body, which has fixed landing gear and an upswept rear section. The nose is round with glassed-in cockpit. The tail boom tapers from the main body to the swept-back, tapered fin with a rotor on the left. The single flat is tapered and flat-mounted on the right side of the fin.

Mission Equipment

The SA 321Ja/Z-8 has a hoist with winch and scoop fitted externally above the starboard side cabin door for rescue missions. For transport missions, the Z-8/SA 321 can carry 27 armed soldiers (maximum 39), or 15 patient litters and a medical staff, or 5,000kg cargo externally on sling.

For anti-submarine warfare (SAW) mission, the SA 321Ja Super Frelon can carry a Thomson Sintra HS-12 dipping sonar. The helicopter can also tow a mine-sweeping countermeasures system for mine-sweeping missions at 46km/h speed for up to two hours, or carry eight 250kg mines for mine-laying missions. It is not known whether the Z-8 was fitted with the similar ASW equipment as the SA 321Ja.

Some of the helicopters had a weather radar accommodated in the nose radome. There is also a surface search radar mounted on the starboard float.

Armament

The SA 321Ja Super Frelon can carry two ET52 ASW torpedoes (Chinese copy of Italian A.244S Whitehead) under the fuselage pylons.

Engines

The SA 321Ja Super Frelon helicopter is powered by three Turboméca 3C III turboshafts, each rated at 874hp (1,190kW). The Z-8 has three WZ-6 (Chinese copy of Turboméca 3C III) turboshafts with similar performance. The internal fuel capacity is 3,900 litres.

The improved Z-8F will be fitted with three Canada-made Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67B turboshaft engines, each rated 1,064hp (1,448kW).

Army Z-8A

The Z-8A is the army transport version of the Z-8. Development of the Z-8A began in the mid-1990s and the helicopter was certified for design finalisation in February 1999. After two examples were delivered to the PLA Army Aviation Corps for operational test and evaluation, Changhe began the delivery of the first production batch in November 2002. Currently a small number of the Z-8A is operated by the PLA 7th Army Aviation Regiment in Jinan Military Region. The Z-8A production continues at a low rate.

The Z-8A is similar to the naval variant Z-8 in appearance, apart from its Army woodland camouflage paint scheme in contrast to the naval grey colour of the Z-8. The Z-8A also retained the nose weather radar and the side floating stabilisers on the original Z-8. The helicopter can carry 27 equipped commandos, or 39 soldiers, or 15 stretchers. If necessary, the helicopter could also carry a small-size SUV-type vehicle via its loading ramp. The helicopter is unarmed.

Air Force Z-8K

In 2007 a new variant Z-8K dedicated for the search and rescue (SAR) role was spotted in operation with the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). As well as having a hydraulic hoist fitted externally above the cabin door, the helicopter also featured an external forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor and a search light fitted underneath the cockpit.

Z-8F

During the 2002 Zhuhai Air Show, Changhe Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) announced that it was developing a new utility variant Z-8F, which would be powered by three Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B turboshaft engines for improved performance. The helicopter made its maiden flight in August 2004.

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