Recently, a blurry image of a new fighter jet undergoing test flights has garnered widespread attention from global military media. This new fighter jet, dubbed the Z-21 by foreign media, is our country’s latest heavy armed helicopter.
To be frank, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has demonstrated to the world that ground warfare in the new century has entered the era of drones. Two major traditional land warfare assets, heavy tanks and heavily armed helicopters, face serious challenges to their survival.
With the existence of the WZ-10 medium armed helicopter and the WZ-19 light armed helicopter, is there still a need to develop such a heavy armed helicopter?
The answer is certainly yes.
Let’s briefly examine the performance of this armed helicopter. According to data released online, the Z-21 is significantly larger than today’s mainstream heavy armed helicopters such as the American AH64E and the Russian Mi-28NM. Its size and weight are expected to surpass both. This suggests that the Z-21’s maximum takeoff weight may potentially surpass that of any other heavy armed helicopter in the world.
The maximum takeoff weight of the American AH64E is 10.4 tons, and that of the Russian Mi-28NM is approximately 12.1 tons. The maximum takeoff weight of the Z-21 could reach a staggering 15 tons. This is a simple calculation based on the length of the aircraft.
Furthermore, in terms of engines, the WZ-10’s turbine engine with a power of 1600 kilowatts has been in mass production for many years. Its improved power is expected to exceed 2100 kilowatts, providing technical support for the Z-21 to achieve its maximum takeoff weight of 15 tons.
What is the significance of having such a large and heavy armed helicopter? Firstly, it represents a qualitative leap in terms of armor, range, onboard electronic equipment, and the types and quantities of weapons and ammunition carried. Secondly, the deployment of a single heavy armed helicopter provides stronger firepower support for the advancement of ground forces.
In a battlefield where air superiority is firmly established, it is essential to establish a firepower blockade against enemy low-altitude and ground armored forces, significantly restricting the mobility of enemy ground forces.
Therefore, as seen in the limited exposure of the Z-21, its firepower mounts are formidable, and it can also carry multiple air-to-air missiles for low-altitude air combat.
Currently, four Type 075 large amphibious assault ships have been launched, but they have rarely been seen in action, nor have there been scenes of them conducting fully loaded formation attacks. This is because they have been waiting for heavy armed helicopters like the Z-21 to form a complete combat capability.
You may not be aware that the amphibious assault ship formation centered around the Type 075 is a long-range strike group designed purely for offensive purposes. And the primary combat goal facing our country currently is, of course, to safeguard national sovereignty and achieve the complete reunification of the motherland.
The primary combat scenario for the Z-21 is self-evident—the Taiwan Strait is an unavoidable topic. From a specific combat scenario perspective, if Taiwan triggers the conditions for military reunification, resulting in armed confrontation, Taiwan’s air force and entire air defense system could be precisely destroyed by various long-range firepower within an hour.
I believe that after decades of training, not only have all valuable targets in Taiwan been clearly identified, but also a large number of reconnaissance satellites monitor any slight changes and movements of these units in real-time.
After quickly seizing air superiority, the long-range delivery and landing of amphibious assault ship formations will be the next major event. The Z-21 plays an important role in this process, not only demonstrating its mobility but also providing sufficient low-altitude firepower cover and support for landing forces. Additionally, it provides firepower cover for the “frog jump” troops composed of various types of helicopters on the Type 075 landing ship, supporting long-range special operations and providing firepower support for decapitation operations.
There is no doubt that the Z-21 is almost tailor-made for the operational requirements in the Taiwan Strait direction.