Z-9 Utility Helicopter

	Z-9 Z-9 'Attack' Z-9C (AS 565) Information Z-9 Specifications

Last updated: 1 June 2007

The Zhi-9 (Z-9) multirole army support helicopter is a licensed copy of the French Eurocopter AS 365N Dauphin II. The Chinese contractor of the co-production is Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Company (HAMC) in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. The contract for the Chinese local production of the AS 365N Dauphin II using the designation Z-9 was signed in 1980. Under the contract, Eurocopter would provide HAMC with 48 sets of AS 365N kits to be assembled in Harbin. The first Chinese assembled AS 365N was completed in 1981. The initial 48 helicopters included 28 basic variant Z-9, which is equal to the AS 365N1, and 20 Z-9A with increased portion of Chinese-made components. All 48 helicopters had been completed by the late 1980s.

In 1988, HAMC experimentally built two Z-9B, also known as Z-9A-100, which were equivalent of the AS 365N2. On 16 January 1992, the first indigenous variant Z-9B with 71.9% Chinese-made parts flew successfully. The flight test of the Z-9B completed in November 1992, and the design certificate was received a month later. The Z-9B production began in 1993 and the helicopter entered PLA service in 1994. A total of 25 were ordered by 1997, and further seven in 1998. The batch production of the Z-9B continued thereafter with over 100 examples delivered.

The Z-9B variant features a modified 11-blade Fenestron faired-in tail rotor with wider-chord, all-composite blades instead of 13 all-metal blades as in AS 365N1. This is also the principal variant in service with the PLA. The Z-9 is the largest asset in the PLA’s helicopter inventory, with possibly over 200 examples currently in service. As a tactical troop transport, the Z-9 has the capacity to transport 10 armed soldiers. Some Z-9s in service with the PLA are specifically configured for communications relaying, artillery direction, and electronic warfare roles. An attack variant of the Z-9 was developed for the anti-armour and close air support roles. The PLA Navy also operates a shipborne variant designated Z-9C.

HAMC is currently developing an improved variant of the Z-9 known as H410A for the civil aviation market. Powered by two Turbomeca Arriel-II turboshaft engines, the H410A was introduced in 2001. A further improved variant H425 with improved Western avionics and modified structure successfully flew in December 2003. The final variant H450 with enhanced payload is currently under development. Should this variant becomes successful, it may also be adopted by the PLA to replace its early variant Z-9s.

The Z-9 is generally identical to the AS 365N Dauphin, but later variants of the Z-9 incorporate more composite materials for high strength and lower radar signature. The helicopter has a four-blade main rotor, with two turboshaft engines mounted side by side on top of the cabin with an air intake on side of motor hump and exhausts at the rear of the hump. The teardrop-shaped body features a tapered boom to the tail fin, a rounded nose and stepped-up cockpit, and retractable gear and flat bottom. The tail flats feature swept-back tips forward of the swept-back and tapered fin with a blunt tip. The rotor is inside a housing at the bottom of the fin.

The helicopter is powered by two 550kW (739hp) Turbomeca Arriel-IC1 turboshaft, which is produced by SAEC at Zhuzhou as Wozhou-8A (WZ-8A). the fuel capacity is 1,140 litre, with option for 180 litre auxiliary tank. The HAMC is developing a new variant H410A/425/450 powered by two improved 635kW (851hp) Arriel-II turboshaft engines.

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