MOSCOW – Additional details on China’s new Harbin Z-20 medium-lifttransport helicopter, first made public at China’s military parade twoweeks ago, have been revealed, while photos of its maritime version havealso been leaked online.
According to Li Linhua, chief technology expert at the Helicopter Researchand Development Institute of China’s Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC),the Z-20 features a fly-by-wire flight control system, rather than older,manual controls.
The fly-by-wire technology, which converts movements of flight controlsinto electronic signals, will decrease the Z-20’s weight, making it easierto fly, Defense News reported. The Z-20 has been part of the ChineselinkPeople’sLiberation Army’s service since late 2017 or early 2018.
The Z-20 is powered by two turboshaft engines and resembles the AmericanUH-60 Black Hawk, a medium-lift utility helicopter used by the US militaryand designed by Sikorsky Aircraft.
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In addition, Chinalinkisbelieved to be creating a maritime version of the Z-20, dubbed the Z-20F,to be used on People’s Liberation Army Navy warships. Photos of the Z-20Fhave appeared online and include a “cut-down rear horizontal stabilizer anda tailwheel that has been relocated forward to the front of thetailboom,” DefenseNewslinkreported.The Z-20F is similar to the US Navy’s Seahawk helicopters.
Based off of photos shared online, the Z-20F likely contains an “air-dataprobe for flight tests,” housings that will most likely “contain phasedarray radars” and a “rotor hub” for “satellite communicationequipment,” DefenseNews reported.link
