China could be developing a stealth helicopter based on its copy of the US Sikorsky Black Hawk, the Harbin Z-20. The rumors emerged in May 2021 and were reinforced by a recent interview with the aircraft's chief designer.
Deng Jinghui is the chief designer of the Z-20, a tactical transport helicopter from China and which is seen as a copy of the UH-60/S-70 Black Hawk of the United States, due to the clear similarities between the two.
Deng is also chief designer at the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute, part of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). In an interview published by China Central Television (CCTV) on the 11th, he noted that the Z-20 should receive updates such as the ability to be refueled in flight, an operation that is also carried out by the Black Hawk.
“As helicopters have a shorter range compared to fixed-wing aircraft, we are considering extending that range in the form of aerial refueling. We can also use other aircraft to carry helicopters in long-range deployment,” said the designer when asked about upgrades to the aircraft.
Other potential upgrades include the use of additional safety airbags to better protect the crew, improvements to the helicopter's vibration levels and reduced noise, Deng said.
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In May 2021, a Chinese media report revealed a scale model of a stealth version of the Z-20, on display at a facility at the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute. While it may really just be a mockup, it could also hint at the development of a possible stealth version of the helicopter.
When asked if a stealth helicopter is in development, Deng didn't give a straight answer, but said: “Helicopters are low-altitude killers that play a unique role in special operations. I'm also interested in this question, so let's wait for an answer together.”
Speaking to Global Times, Chinese military aviation expert Fu Qianshao said the stealth helicopter can be an advanced research project, and this type of aircraft can be a good choice in assault and penetration missions, as it is more difficult to detect and has a higher chance of survival. .
It was precisely in a low-altitude penetration operation that the United States used two stealth helicopters based on the Black Hawk. On May 02, 2011, the stealth aircraft were ed by an MH-47 Chinook, taking teams of Navy SEALS to the Pakistani city of Abbottabad.
The mission, called Operation Neptune Spear, resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden, leader and founder of al-Qaeda and responsible for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
One of the stealth aircraft ended up crashing on the spot, but was destroyed by the military. The only part left in relatively good condition was the tail rotor and its empennage. China and Pakistan have been allies for decades, so it's plausible that some of the wreckage could have fallen into Chinese hands.
Although the helicopters have not been revealed until today, the portal The War Zone revealed in 2020 the first image of a Black Hawk modified for low observability tests.
In addition to updates and future developments of the Z-20, which already has two variants for on-board operations, China is also working on the development of a heavy transport helicopter.
Explaining the differences between the Z-20F ASW-variant and the Z-20J utility/multirole variant.
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Asked about the matter, Deng said that it will be decided based on the 's request and China's technological capabilities.
It will likely feature a main rotor and tail rotor like the CH-53E, as opposed to the tandem rotor design used by the CH-47. This is because China now has a better technological reserve in the first version, so the development risk is lower, according to Deng.
