People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force - Helicopters

Helicopters

Helicopters are an important asset aboard Chinese surface combatants. With over 30 surface warships and numerous auxiliaries capable of facilitating a helicopter, it is surprising that the PLANAF operates small numbers of ship-borne helicopters. Over the years, the PLANAF has operated the Changhe Z-8, Harbin Z-9 and Russian Ka-28 Helix. The Changhe Z-8 is the largest helicopter built in China yet, which is largely similar to the French Super Frelon design. The Z-8 is most efficient in auxiliary roles in the PLAN, such as towing mine clearing systems, vertical inflight refueling of smaller ships, and supporting the Chinese submarine fleet. The Z-8 is also quite capable of carrying out attacks on submarines using dipping sonar and torpedo, and attacks against surface ships using the YJ-82 missile.

The Z-9C and the French AS 565 have become standard helicopters for PLAN surface combatants. The French delivered eight AS 565N Dauphins to the PLANAF in the late 1980s to equip China's latest escorts. The Z-9C is an indigenous version of the AS 565. Numbers have not been confirmed, but around 25 are credited to be in service (though some estimate only 10). The Z-9C is a multi role medium sized helicopter capable of ASW, SAR and surface targeting roles. With the purchase of the Russian Sovremenny class destroyers, the Ka-28 Helix was also imported. This is the export version of the Ka-27, the standard ship borne helicopter for the Russian Navy. The Ka-28 is vastly superior to the Z-9C and Z-8 in performance, and is expected to be the new standard helicopter for future Chinese destroyers and frigates. Eight Ka-28s were delivered so far (with four ASW and four SAR variants) to form a training regiment. More have since been delivered.