Naval Air: Chinese Chopper Hunts Subs

Archives

October 5, 2009: China has delivered six of its Z-9 helicopters, equipped for anti-submarine operations, to Pakistan. This means the choppers are fitted with radar, dipping sonar and lightweight torpedoes. This model (the Z-9EC) can probably also carry the new air launched anti-ship missile, the TL-10, that China introduced last year, specifically for its Z-9 naval helicopter.

The missile was apparently developed in cooperation with Iran (which calls it the Kosar). The TL-10 is a 240 pound missile, with a 65 pound warhead. It has a range of about 18 kilometers. The TL-10 has been in use for a few years, and the latest version, the TL-10C is believed to have a fire and forget guidance system (based on onboard radar). The TL-10 can be lethal for smaller (under 500 tons) ships, but can do a lot of damage to larger ships.

The Z-9 is a license built version of the French AS 365N Dauphin. It's a four ton helicopter with a two ton payload. China has built over 200 of the Z-9s and many have been armed (with twin 23mm cannon, torpedoes, anti-tank missiles and air-to-air missiles.) The Z-9D, armed with four TL-10 missiles, while the Z-9EC simply has anti-submarine equipment installed instead.

 

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close