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Manufacturers Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation, Aviation Industry Corporation of China | ||
The Changhe Z-18 is a medium transport helicopter developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) to replace the Z-8.
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Design and development
The Z-18 is a single-rotor helicopter with tail rotor and a non-retractable landing gear, thought to be based on the Avicopter AC313, an updated design based on the earlier Harbin Z-8, itself a development of the Aérospatiale Super Frelon. A naval version of the Z-18 was first revealed onboard Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning. In 2014, the army version of Z-18 was revealed in Chinese army publications. It features a redesigned lower fuselage, with power provided by three improved WZ-6C turboshaft engines and has a MTOW of 13.8 tonnes.
The Z-18 uses composite materials for the rotor blade and titanium main rotor. It is equipped with a modern integrated digital avionics system and advanced electronic flight instrument landing system. Variants of the Z-18 have been developed for performing VIP transport, search and rescue, ASW and AEW operations.
Variants
