CAIC Z-10 ME （Early, in 2018）

[NORINCO_s_50W]

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CAIC Z-10 ME （Early, in 2018）

Spoiler

Z-10 ME (Early, in 2018) is a variant of CAIC Z-10” Fierce Thunderbolt ”. It was designed for the Pakistan in order to meet the needs of plateau operations. At first, Pakistan army showed less interest in ME, cause the Turkish T-129 could be a better opinion. At 2018, Turkish got the order to produce choppers for them. However the Turks found the American engine that is required couldn’t deliver in time, due to some political issue, and the postponement became longer and insufferable. In 2022 Pakistan finally to cancel the deal with Turkey and turn to the Z-10ME (after a series of improvements).

Spoiler

To get better performance in Pamirs, Z-10 ME(Early) has got several changes. Its engine has changed to AES 100(Or WZ-9G), twin 1200kw engines to provide much better power to the helicopter. This improvement also helps the very chopper to improve other characteristics, but sadly until now quite few data was released. Z-10ME also got 4 UV missile approach warning on different angel, which the origin Z-10 lack of. Several Ceramic additional armours were added to protect the engine, pilot and front electronic equipment compartment. The cannon’s ammunition bay was moved back, below the pilot in the rear compartment, this change gives the chopper more ammunition and help improved the structure of the center of gravity of the helicopter. The exhaust port is changed to upward and the engine intake port has also been improved, the intake air volume is larger. By adding a newly designed dust cover, the engine gets better resistance function capability.

Spoiler

Instead of the 23mm cannon used in other Z-10, Z-10ME has a 20mm cannon gun, rumoured the 20mm cannon gun can adapt the NATO ammunition. The chopper also got several choice of payload: Rocket Nests(FS-57/70/90), ATGM(Blue Arrow 7 or CM502KG), Anti-Air Missiles(TY-90), Gun Pods, Electronic Warfare Pods and Drop Fuel Tanks, allows it to attack from multiple angles.

Weaponry

Spoiler

TY-90 Anti-Air Missile (Foreign trade version, Early)

TY-90 is an Anti-Air Missile, designed to attack hostile helicopter or other air target. It can both launch from ground vieicle and chopper.

Data:

Length: 1862 mm

Width: 90 mm

Weight: 20 kg

Maximum launch range: 6 km

Maximum overload: over 20 g

Maximum speed: Over Mach 2.0

Spoiler

Blue Arrow 7, AKD-10 foreign trade version

Data:

Length: 1775 mm

Width: 170 mm

Weight: 46 kg

Range: 7 km

Penetration: 1400 mm

Spoiler

CM502KG

An ATGM that showed in 2012, designed to attack drone, however, it can attack some speedboats and armoured target.

Data:

Weight: 45 kg (Warhead: 11 kg)

Maximum speed: Mach 1.0

Total speed: 350 m/s

Combat Range: 25 km

Fire-and-Forget ability: yes

Penetration: 1000 mm

Specifications

Crew: Two, pilot and observer

Length: 16.13 m (accuracy may be questionable)

Height: 4.42 m (accuracy may be questionable)

Max takeoff weight: 6800 kg

Powerplant: 2 x AES 100 Engine, 1200kw (1631.5 hp)

Rotor diameter: 13.5 m (accuracy may be questionable)

Spoiler

Armament & Weaponry

4 x 4 TY-90

2 x 4 TY-90, 2 pylons for rockets

2 x 4 TY-90, 2 gun pods

4 x 4 AKD10/CM502KG

2 x 4 AKD10/CM502KG, 2 pylons for rockets

2 x 4 AKD10/CM502KG, 2 gun pods

Reference Data:

4 x PL-90B with pylon: about 140 kg

4 x CM502KG with pylon: about 285 kg

4 x AKD10A with pylon: about 250 kg

4 x AKD9A with pylon: about 150 kg

7 x FS-70 with pylon: about 95 kg

19 x FS-70 with pylon: about 260 kg

Sources

央视新闻客户端_央视网

https://www.changhe.com/product.html?category=7

[新闻直播间]2018珠海航展 改进型直-10ME 装弹多防御强

https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404699222078521626

Changhe Z-10

Photos took from Zhuhai Airshow ( Photos 1 to 13)

[Tyeee]

+1 I wouldn’t mind adding another Z10 to my list

[_KR_Paul]

I always thought that the Z-10 ME was the one with the MMW radar, so that it could also fire the radar-guided BA-21, which is similar to the Hellfire Longbow. Given that China already has an 11.7 helicopter and as far as I know no FaF missiles whose range wouldn’t be absolutely OP, I can’t see them adding another helicopter to the lineup. Unless they take the next step with radar-guided missiles. Because at the moment all the Apache nations and China are at a disadvantage compared to Germany, Italy, France and Russia when it comes to attack helicopters. The former use FaF guided missiles and Russia has the fast flying Vhikrs with their long range of 10 km. AKD-10 also has a range of 10 km and very high penetration values, but the speed is too slow. And the Hellfire K only has a range of 8 km and has to be actively guided into the target. Hellfire Longbow and Ba-21 (which is much faster than akd 10) would be something like balancing justice, because they should offer the possibility to aim at the target behind cover only with the radar outside due to the mast-bound radar. It also offers the possibility of hitting through smoke.

[soviet_MoonMan]

Some more pictures showing off more weapons

[MoZi3]

+1 the best known chinese heli

[金头盔-蒋佳冀大校]

Here’s more image, and the newest Z10ME equipped with a radar.

[soviet_MoonMan]

Assuming box with the bulb is part of an IRCM system?

[金头盔-蒋佳冀大校]

Yes and based on the information it have In addition to the large-capacity shell bay/external bomb chain that has been displayed before, it is also equipped with cockpit/engine armor and a new air intake filter. Radar masts, etc., and more importantly, it is equipped with a complete new self-defense kit, including a new system of warning devices and active infrared suppression systems.

[金头盔-蒋佳冀大校]

Here’s more image and information.

[金头盔-蒋佳冀大校]

And you can go check these two video, this is the Pakistan piolet test drive the Z-10ME in Pakistan.

中国武装直升机武直10wz-10me出口版在巴基斯坦西南部进行飞行测试_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

武直10WZ-10ME武装直升机出口巴基斯坦版在巴基斯坦测试武器发射_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

[Surbaissemaxxing]

+1 Since spikes are ingame too, a chinese heli with IR guided CM502KG wouldnt be that big of a problem later on in the year

[NCC105]

@soviet_MoonMan

part of an IRCM system

Yes, a DIRCM system similar to L-370. As a medium sized heli, Z-10 doesn’t have much inner space for these additional equipments, so they are hanging all around.

[oom1992]

I guess gaijin could add this attack helicopter to rank VIII

[Ibash_Aminoas]

can I play CM502 while I’m alive?

[Tyeee]

All hail mighty snail,

please bless us with this vehicle instead of a copy past of another nation

Top tier China has a lot of unique vehicles that could attract more players to play China