Z-11 light military transport helicopter - Variants
There are several variants of the base Z-11 design. These include the Z-11J model modified for the rigors of military service. The Z-11W is an armed version designed for various roles including reconnaissance, suppression and MEDEVAC. The Z-11WA is a lighter scout platform. The Z-11MB1 features the Arriel 2B1A series engine from France. The Z-11W is a dedicated light-attack form carrying either Chinese or French engines. It carries the usual attack ordnance, including guided missiles, rocket pods and gun pods. The Z-11WB is an attack-reconnaissance platform with all-new cockpit, weapons stations and increased mission equipment.
Although the Zhi-11 helicopter is designed and built in China, it is generally very similar to the French "Squirrel" light helicopter. The corresponding domestic civilian version is the AC-313 light helicopter, which is mainly used for search and rescue, fire prevention, medical treatment and police tasks. The domestic Zhi-11 gunship can carry 57mm rocket pods, 4 Red Arrow-8 anti-tank missiles or similar missile weapons, and its positioning is similar to the international MD500 light helicopter. There are two different engines for the Zhi-11 gunship. The first is the domestically produced turboshaft-8D turboshaft engine, and the other is the French Turbomeca Akhye 2B1A engine.
The Zhi-11 helicopter is mainly used as the helicopter trainer of the aviation school in China, and the armed Zhi-11 has not seen large-scale equipment. This is because China’s Army Aviation already has the Z-9 armed to perform armed reconnaissance missions, and the large number of armed Z-11s have overlapping missions.
However, the export prospects of the aircraft are still relatively good, because the early legal "Small Gazelle" and other light armed helicopters have basically reached the retirement or upgrade age, and the Zhi-11E armed helicopter can fill the market gap in this regard.
In October 2019, the Z-11E, a made-for-export variant of the helicopter, received its first contract, as two of them were ordered by an African client. China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation and Changhe Aircraft Industry (Group) Corp under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) signed a contract, involving the export of two Z-11E armed helicopters to Africa at the Fifth China Helicopter Exposition held in Tianjin.
The contract marked the first time this type of helicopter has been exported, and also the first time a product of AVIC's Changhe branch has been sold to Africa. Capable of carrying six people, machine guns, rockets and anti-tank missiles, the 2.2-ton Z-11E can conduct military and paramilitary missions including land attacks, support, reconnaissance and counter-terrorism. It features an advanced Chinese-made engine, has a high flight performance, is digitalized and easy to maintain.
It was not revealed which African country made the purchase.
The Z-11E gunship exported this time is a light gunship, nicknamed "Buzzard, a 2-ton standard helicopter. In addition to carrying machine gun pods, rocket pods and anti-tank missiles, it can also dismantle corresponding weapons. After being equipped, the flight with 6 members is relatively high for African countries with limited military expenditure.
From the appearance point of view, the appearance of the Z-11E gunship exported this time is quite different from that of the Z-11 gunship in the early years in China. The nose part has become more sleek and the pilot's observation field of vision has been further improved. The avionics originally installed in the nose of the aircraft are arranged in a spherical hoisting method, which reduces the impact on the pilot's observation field.
Richard Fisher notes that "At the 2002 Zhuhai show Changhe revealed that it was developing an armed version of the Z-11, called the WZ-11 Combat Songshu. A twin-engine Z-11 is being developed with the help of Rolls Royce, that will be comparable to the AS-555 FENNEC. This may yet be the real basis for the WZ-11 as it would have more power. The WZ-11 employs a sight mounted on top the fuselage and has weapons pylons for either four guided anti-armor missiles or four unguided rocket pods. In late 2003 the PLA was reported to have built six of these WZ-11 Combat Songshu versions. The WZ-11 may turn out to be an important weapon in the PLA's ongoing preparations for a war over Taiwan. Cheap and relatively simple to produce, a large number of WZ-11s could inflict significant damage and provide much needed scout functions and initial air cover for invading PLA troops. This may prove to be a more important attack helicopter for the PLA than the indigenous WZ-10."
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