L'elicottero d'attacco cinese Harbin WZ-19 - Wǔzhuāng Zhíshēngjī, 武装直升机

L'Harbin Z-19 Hei Xuan Feng, chiamato anche WZ-19, è un elicottero cinese da ricognizione ed attacco sviluppato da Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) per l'Esercito Popolare di Liberazione. Viene costruito utilizzando componenti dell'Harbin Z-9, versione costruita su licenza dell'Eurocopter Dauphin.

Progettazione e sviluppo

Il Z-19 è una versione aggiornata e modificata dell'Harbin Z-9W (simile allo sviluppo del Bell AH-1 Cobra dall'UH-1 Huey). Si tratta di un elicottero a due posti in tandem che ha in comune molti componenti con lo Z-9, versione costruita su licenza dell'Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin. Il Z-19 è dotato, come l'elicottero da cui deriva, di un rotore incassato nella coda chiamato Fenestron (finestrone), che comporta una minore resistenza aerodinamica ed un minore inquinamento acustico.

Versioni

Z-19E

Versione per l'esportazione che ha compiuto il primo volo il 15 maggio 2017. Rispetto al tipo base, questa versione dispone di un armamento più vario e più consistente che comprende anche un cannone da 23 mm, oltre ai già citati missili anticarro e missili aria-aria. Essa, inoltre, dispone anche di blindatura in materiale composito nell'area dell'abitacolo ed è stata sottoposta a trattamenti per la riduzione della traccia radar.

Utilizzatori

• Cina
• Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Lujun
• 80 esemplari in servizio.

ENGLISH

The, also called WZ-19, is a Chinese reconnaissance/attack helicopter developed by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force and the Ground Force Air Force. It is a specialized combat variant of the Harbin Z-9 which is a licence built version of the Eurocopter Dauphin.

Design and development

The Z-19 is an updated modified version of the Harbin Z-9W (similar to the development of the Bell AH-1 Cobra from the UH-1). It is a twin-seat tandem helicopter using mechanical components derived from the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin series, as the Z-9 series are licence-built versions of the Dauphin.

The Z-19 features a fenestron tail, reducing the noise level and therefore allowing it to achieve some level of acoustic stealthiness. The exhausts have also been designed to reduce the infrared signature. The helicopter is equipped with a millimeter wave fire control radar. Unlike most other attack helicopters, it lacks a nose-mounted machine gun or autocannon.

The Z-19 also features armor plating, crash-resistant seats, and a turret with FLIR, TV, and laser rangefinder. It is also equipped with advanced helmet mounted sight (HMS), which looks different from that of the CAIC WZ-10.

The general designer of the WZ-19 was Wu Ximing (吴希明) of the 602nd Research Institute, one of the Chinese top scientists involved in the 863 Program, after graduating from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1984. Wu had earlier participated in the designs of the armed version of the transport helicopters Z-8A, Z-11 and WZ-9. He also participated in the development and flight testing of another Chinese attack helicopter, the CAIC WZ-10. At the 9th Zhuhai Airshow held in November 2012, Aviation Industry Corporation of China formally announced the official names of the WZ-10 and WZ-19 at a televised news release conference, with both attack helicopters named after fictional characters in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. WZ-10 is named as Lighting fire (Pili Huo, 霹雳火), the nickname of Qin Ming, while WZ-19 is named as Black Whirlwind (Hei Xuanfeng, 黑旋风), the nickname of Li Kui.

Production

Harbin is developing the Z-19, which is expected to function and support with a heavier attack helicopter, the CAIC WZ-10, in the near future. Export variants will be designated WZ-19 (Wǔzhuāng Zhíshēngjī, 武装直升机 - attack helicopter), but aircraft used in China will be designated Z-19 as WZ is used by the PLAAF for UAVs (WZ - Wúrén Zhēnchá, 无人侦察 (Unmanned Reconnaissance).

Variants:

• Z-19
• Z-19 millimeter wave radar platform.

Operators:

• People's Republic of China
• People's Liberation Army Ground Force.

Specifications (Z-19)

General characteristics:

• Crew: Two, pilot and observer
• Length: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
• Height: 4.01 m (13 ft 2 in)
• Empty weight: 2,350 kg (5,181 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 4,250 kg (9,370 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × WZ-8C turboshafts, 700 kW (940 hp) each
• Main rotor diameter: 11.93 m (39 ft 2 in)
• Main rotor area: 111.79 m2 (1,203.3 sq ft).

Performance:

• Maximum speed: 280 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
• Cruise speed: 245 km/h (152 mph, 132 kn)
• Range: 700 km (430 mi, 380 nmi)
• Endurance: 4 hours
• Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,685 ft)
• Rate of climb: 9 m/s (1,800 ft/min).

Armament:

• 2 pylons for rockets, gun pods, 8x HJ-8 or other anti-tank/air-to-surface/anti-ship missiles, 8x TY-90 air-to-air missiles.

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