Changhe Z-11WB Specs, Cockpit, Speed, and Price

Changhe Z-11WB Specs, Cockpit, Speed, and Price – Changhe Z-11WB is a new reconnaissance and attack helicopter developed by AVIC Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC), China. This is the military version of the AC311 multi-role civilian helicopter, which is also a derivative of the Z-11 lightweight utility helicopter. This helicopter can be operated for ground attack missions, battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance, fire support, command and control, counter-terrorism, and war-centric network and air missions.

The Z-11WB helicopter made its first flight in September 2015 and was exhibited to the general public for the first time at the 2016 China Airshow exhibition in November 2016. The Z-11WB helicopter is expected to operate with the Chinese Armed Forces in 2017.

Changhe Z-11WB Specs

The Z-11WB helicopter integrates a teardrop-shaped composite fuselage and configuration of a single main rotor plus a conventional tail rotor. The three-bladed main rotor is installed in the center of the fuselage, while the single turbo shaft engine is mounted inside the body. The lower part of the body is mounted with a skid-type landing gear. Overall, the Z-11WB has an overall length of 13 m, the length of the fuselage is 11.24 m, the width of the fuselage is 1.8 m and the height is 3.14 m. The diameter of the rotor is 10.6 m, while the maximum take-off (MTOW) weight of the helicopter is 2,200 kg.

Changhe Z-11WB Engine and Performance

The Z-11WB light attack helicopter is powered by a WZ8D turboshaft engine, a variant made by Turbomeca Arriel 2B1A. The engine can produce a maximum output power of 632 kW making the Z-11WB helicopter capable of flying up to a maximum speed of 278 km / hour. This helicopter is equipped with a tank with a fuel storage capacity of 535 l giving a maximum operating distance of 680 km. Z-11WB can ride at speeds of around 8.3 m / s.

Changhe Z-11WB Cockpit and Avionics

The Z-11WB cockpit integrates a multi-function cockpit display that can accommodate pilots and up to three troops. The large glass open nose cockpit design increases visibility for the crew. The rear cockpit can be mounted with two sets of seats, which can be folded to mount a pintle-mounted weapon. The rotor also integrates an electro-optical pod mounted on the nose. The highly integrated avionics system above the cockpit reduces pilot workload.

Changhe Z-11WB Weapons

The Z-11WB light attack helicopter can carry a variety of weapons and equipment weighing up to 976 kg. It was able to accommodate a pintle-mounted weapon system such as the 40 mm LGG Norinco automatic grenade launcher (AGL) and the 7.62 mm CS / LM12 mini-gun six-barrel. This helicopter has a pole to carry missiles and bombs. Weapons on both sides of the fuselage can be hung with quad launchers for Tian Lei 2 (TL-2) air-to-ground missiles.

The TL-2 laser guided missile is intended to involve small land and sea platforms, as well as personnel. The helicopter also carries AG-300 / M and SW-6 (Sky Wing 6) air-to-surface missiles launched in tactical air unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Z-11WB helicopter can also be armed with TY-90 and CM-502KG air-to-surface air-to-air missiles, Hongjian-8 (Red Arrow 8) and Lan Jian 7 anti-tank missiles (Blue Arrow 7), rockets , and the FT-9 and YZ-212D laser guided precision bombs.

Changhe Z-11WB Price

The price of Changhe Z-11WB reconnaissance and light attack helicopters is around US $ 20 million.