On the last day of 2020, a photo of the Z-20 helicopter carrying 8 AKD-10 air-to-surface missiles – air-to-surface derivative of the HJ-10 – for a test flight appeared on the Internet, confirming the existence of the armed type of Z-20 helicopter.
The AKD-10 laser-guided air-to-surface missile is of the same level as the AGM-114 Hellfire of the U.S. It can attack a variety of ground targets including armored vehicles. Its corresponding export-type Blue Arrow-7 (BA-7) projectile weighs 46 kilograms, has a range of 7 kilometers, and is capable of breaking armor up to 1400 mm.
Just a short time ago, Z-20’s chief engineer said in an interview that he was most looking forward to the series development of Z-20 helicopter.
However, the armed Z-20 uses the transportation-type’s nose terrain tracking radar and forward-looking infrared sensor, and is not equipped with long-distance photoelectric viewing equipment, which to some extent limits the helicopter’s battlefield situational awareness capabilities, and whether it can give full play to the AKD-10’s range is still a problem.
Although the armed Z-20 cannot be a heavy gunship, according to analyst Bai Zhandao, given that Z-20 has excellent flight control, power system and rotor design, China may refer to the successful experience of Z-19 helicopter, and quickly develop Z-29 heavy-duty gunship by redesigning the fuselage of Z-20.