Harbin Z-9WA

[PlanyKaanere 722]

This post was originally part of a joint suggestion with the Harbin Z-9W

 

Harbin Z-9WA

 

 

The Harbin Z-9WA is a further development of the Z-9W first revealed in 2005. This variant solved some of the major issues of its predecessor, notably its limited armament and lack of night operation capabilities. A nose-mounted pod with FLIR, low-light TV camera and laser rangefinder pod replaced the optical sight. New stub wings were implemented, which retained two hardpoints but increased their carrying capability: each hardpoint can carry 4x HJ-8 or AKD-9 ATGMs, 4x TY-90 AAMs, one 23mm gunpod or one rocket pod. MAWS and Chaff/Flare dispensers were also installed.

 

The Harbin Z-9WA is offered for export as the Z-9WE. Kenya and Cameroon are operators of the type, with 6 and 4 units respectively. A dedicated reconnaissance variant was designated as Z-9WZ and operated by the PLA.

 

For more information on the history of the base aircraft see it's suggestion thread:

 

Spoiler

Z-9WA and its armaments

 

Cockpit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General technical characteristics

 

By default, the Z-9 / SA365N features a teardrop-shaped fuselage with a fenestron tail rotor and retractable tricycle landing gear. The structure makes extensive use of composite materials like glass fiber-reinforced plastic, nomex and Kevlar on the airframe, and carbon fiber on the rotor blades. The cockpit can be configured for single or dual control and has one door on each side. The passenger cabin features up to 12 seats and has four doors. 

 

Power is provided by two Turbomeca Arriel turboshafts (WZ-8A in Chinese production), each connected to a separate hydraulic system and electric starter-generator. A four blade main rotor and a 13-blade (11 on the Z-9B) fenestron tail rotor propel the vehicle.

 

Flight crew: One
Length (without rotors): 13.46m
Height (without rotors): 3.47m

Blades: Main rotor 4; tail rotor 13 (Z-9/A), or 11 (Z-9B)
Empty weight: 1,975kg (Z-9), or 2,050kg (Z-9A)
Max take-off weight: 3,850kg (Z-9/A), or 4,100kg (Z-9B)
Max payload: 1,900kg
Max external payload on sling: 1,600kg
Max speed: 305km/h
Cruising speed: 250~260km/h
Service ceiling: 4,500m (Z-9/A), or 6,000m (Z-9B)
Hover ceiling (out of ground effect): 1,020m (Z-9/A), or 1,600m (Z-9B)
Hover ceiling (in ground effect): 1,950m (Z-9/A), or 2,600m (Z-9B)
Range: 1,000km
Flight endurance: 5 hours

 

From: sinodefence.com. Note this refers to non-armed variants

 

Powerplant: 2xTurbomeca Arriel 1C1 / WZ-8A

• Dimensions (m): 1.17x0.61x0.47
• Dry weight: 118.6
• Takeoff power : 526 KW (705 hp)
• Maximum continous power: 437 KW (586 hp)

 

From: European Aviation Safety Agency

 

Weight data
Maximum take-off weight	4250kg
Standard empty weight	2773kg
Max. useable fuel weight	854kg (834.5kg)
Fuel capability in 2 auxiliary fuel tanks	300 kg

 

Overall Data
Main rotor diameter	12.00m
Tail rotor diameter	1.10m
Overall length （Main rotor turning）	13.72m
Airframe length （Main rotor excluded）	12.04m
Airframe width （Main rotor excluded）	4.44m
Airframe width （Main rotor and weapon camberbeam excluded）	3.21m
Airframe width （Main rotor, weapon camberbeam, horizontal stabilizer and side fins excluded）	2.03m
Height of vertical tail	3.97m
Height of rotor hub	3.49m
Underbelly ground clearance	0.4m
Wheel track	1.90m
Wheel base	3.64m
Weapon hardpoint transverse pitch	4.00m

 

Flight performance	ISA	ISA+20℃
Never exceed speed	278km/h	278km/h
Maximum cruise speed	231km/h	238km/h
Optimum cruise speed	217km/h	216km/h
Hovering ceiling, IGE	2408m	1582m
Hovering ceiling, OGE	1283m	590m
Inclined climb rate	7.06m/s	6.85m/s
Climb rate, OEI	1.63m/s	0.28m/s
Service ceiling	4046m	3253m
Range (30 min fuel reserve)	459km	447km
Endurance(30 min fuel reserved)	2.91 h	2.84 h
Range (with 2 auxiliary fuel tanks, no weapons carried, 30 min. fuel reserve)	726km	712km
Endurance (with 2 auxiliary fuel tanks, no weapons carried, 30 min. fuel reserve)	4.29h	4.19h

 

From: hafeigroup.net. This refers to the Z-9WE variant

 

 

 

Armament specifications

 

Spoiler

• HJ-8 : The HJ-8 (Hongjiang-8, Red Arrow-8) is a Chinese wire-guided SACLOS anti-tank missile first produced in 1984. For a long time it was the main ATGM of the People's Liberation Army, and thus became the standard anti-tank armament of the Z-9W and Z-9WA. The HJ-8E variant features a tandem warhead with 800-1000 mm of penetration, a flight speed of 200-220 m/s and a range of up to 4000m. Source:  missilery.info

Spoiler

Z-9WA with 8x HJ-8

 

HJ-8 variants

 

• TY-90: Short range air-to-air missile, developed for helicopter use and entering service in 2000. It ihas been mounted on several PLA helicopters including the Z-10, Z-11, Z-9W, Mil Mi-17, and Z-19. It has also been adapted for surface vehicle launch on the Yi-Tian Air Defense System. The missile features an infrared homing head with a 30º viewing angle and either contact or laser proximity fuses. It has a range of 500m to 6 Km with a maximum speed of Match 2.2 and a maximum G overload of 20G. Source: missilery.info

Spoiler

Z-9WA with TY-90

 

• AKD-9/BA-9: (from WT Wiki) The Blue Arrow 9 (BA-9) can be considered a smaller AGM-114B Hellfire , as a semi-active laser guided missile that can also follow a lofting flight trajectory and can lock-on-after-launch (LOAL). However it has a 25% shorter range, only 800 mm of penetration akin to the Soviet 9M120 Ataka , and a lower flight speed by around 30% than the Hellfire. Although the BA-9 is nothing special compared to its contemporaries, it still gets the job done against most tanks, particularly if it is able to hit them from above. Multiple missiles can also be launched at the same target if the need arises.

Spoiler

Z-9WA firing an AKD-10

 

 

 

Why should it be added? The Eurocopter SA.365 Dauphin is an iconic aircraft that deserves a place in the game. Having armed variants operated by two in-game nations (France and China), modeling resources of the aircraft can be shared between two trees and about 4 aircraft: the SA.565 Panther and SA.361HCL for France, and the Z-9W and Z-9WA for China (plus part of the Z-19). They can also support a Chinese tree on helicopter mid-tiers, and would remain different enough from French Dauphins to not feel like copy-pastes. Additionally the Z-9WE can be added as a Rank VI premium helicopter while keeping the WA as researchable.

 

Finally, they look good and that's more than enough reason to add them.

 

Sources

 

http://www.hafeigroup.net/z9we/index.shtml

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20110909123534/http://airforceworld.com/pla/z9-helicopter-china-2.htm#z9wa

 

http://all-aero.com/index.php/contactus/35-helicopters/copters/406-sa365-dauphin-2-sa365m-panther-hh-65-dolphin-sa565-panther-harbin-z-9-eurocopter-panther-sa366-x380

 

http://www.airwar.ru/enc/ah/wz9.html

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20061230045553/http://sinodefence.com/airforce/helicopter/z9.asp

 

Picture sources (imgur backup)

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20160809193722/http://club.china.com/data/thread/1013/2713/82/91/8_1.html

https://canhco.net/campuchia-mua-truc-thang-chien-dau-trung-quoc-de-lam-gi-p304813.html

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_53b550ec010006af.html

Edited June 30, 2022 by PlanyKaanere

[Thatz 637]

Open for Discussion 

[PlanyKaanere 722]

Thanks!

 

I'm going to edit the mess with the spoilers shortly, the double copy-paste has messed them up.

[Jarilo-VI 一般兵 139]

+1

[Milocat 4,857]

+1 for sure, great Chinese helicopter choice.  

[NAYEONnaise 1,936]

+1 for 9.7

[DoneDirtCheap 370]

+1

[不是很能抗压 1,265]

9.7

[leroyonly 4,311]

As the Z-9WA has been implemented with Update 2.19 Drone Age,

 

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.