Wuzhi 10 is the most powerful armed helicopter in active service in China. However, due to the "size" of its medium-sized aircraft, it is still not comparable to the heavy armed helicopter in terms of armor protection capabilities. Wuzhi 10 is a medium-sized armed helicopter. Its unit power is larger than that of Apache. The total weapon load is more than that of other similar armed helicopters. Even with its electromechanical configuration, it has reached the world's advanced level. However, there are some shortcomings in the medium-sized machine, Wuzhi 10 is still difficult to overcome. Although the performance is very good, but the comprehensive ability of the heavy machine is undoubtedly much better.
In order to develop a heavy-duty armed helicopter, it is first necessary to research and develop a supporting high-power turboshaft engine. In the past, the technical level of China's turboshaft engines could only make the medium-sized Wuzhi 10 have no hidden dangers and deficiencies in power. Many people believe that Pratt & Whitney Canada restricts the import of PT-6 engines in China. The Canadian PT-6 turboshaft engine is not as powerful as we thought, about 860 kW, and only 1217 kW in the emergency speed limit mode. Compared with the domestically improved turboshaft 9 engine, the current power has exceeded 900 kW, close to 1000 kW. It will be bigger in restricted mode. Therefore, we choose independent research and development, the fundamental purpose of which is to use advanced engines.
However, the improved 900 kW turboshaft 9 engine cannot support the development of heavy armed helicopters at all. If it continues to develop, China’s heavy military helicopters will be unable to meet the needs of maneuvering, loading and flying. Nevertheless, the recently announced domestic advanced turboshaft engines are already very reliable. Both the 1300 kW-class turboshaft 16 and the 1600 kW turboshaft 10 can support China's heavy-duty engines in the future.
China has no more engine bottlenecks. In other words, today's Wuzhi 10 is just an appetizer, and China's real heavy armed helicopter is about to come out. The power of the turboshaft engine used in the Apache gunship is approximately 1120 kW. In comparison, the technical performance of the turboshaft 16 is the most advanced and can achieve flight performance beyond the original. The
turboshaft 16 engine is a Sino-French joint research and development product, which has obtained model approval and has the conditions for use. The birth of this kind of engine has extremely important reference significance for us. Although the power is not great, the airframe materials, structural design, data processing, etc. are all of the international advanced level. We, who have not been exposed to advanced European technology for a long time, can naturally "see the whole picture" through the scroll 16.
In fact, whether it is the straight 8 straight 9 or the latest straight 20, all active main combat helicopters in China basically have a strong "European and American style". For example, the straight 20 looks like an American Black Hawk helicopter, but it The technical reference materials, technological level and some important information all have European technology. In fact, this also represents the current state of development of Chinese helicopters. Even the joint development of a new type of helicopter with Russia is essentially a European technology export. Our heavy-duty armed helicopters may "hit the face" of the American Apache again in the foreseeable future, but the technical experience is that we have absorbed advanced European technology and used an independent domestic system. (Text/Mountain Peak)
