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 Mi-17/171 Hip
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An Mi-171 was on a long-range mission somewhere in Southeast China
carrying 6 external fuel tanks. It is one of the over 100 Russian-made Mi-17/171s (serial
numbers LH917xx, 927xx, 937xx, 947xx, 957xx, 967xx, 987xx, 997xx) which represent the majority of
medium transport helicopters in service with PLA Army Aviation (LH). In order to replace the
obsolete Z-5/Mi-4, 24 Mi-17s were initially purchased in 1991
following the US government's refusal to sell more S-70C Black Hawks. Since then
another 35 improved Mi-171s were purchased in 1995. Among them, some were modifed by adding
IFF and external pylons for carrying up to six bombs, fuel tanks,
or rocket launchers. Some are also modified to lay mines or carry
paratroopers. However unlike the similar type in service with Russian Army (Mi-8TV), these
locally modified Mi-171s appear to lack cockpit armor plates, nose machine gun, chaff
launchers or engine IR suppressors. Its cruise speed is 230km and range is 1,000km. The latest
report indicated that the newest Mi-17-V5s (or Mi-8MTV-5, 35
were ordered in 2000, serial number CUAxx) featuring a solid nose and a loading ramp were recently
acquired in 2001. Apparently this cheap, robust and versatile helicopter has become the backbone of
LH.
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SA-342 Gazelle
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8 SA-342
anti-tank helicopters are also in service with PLA Army as its first generation attack helicopter
(serial number LH943xx). This small helicopter has only two crews, the pilot and the weapon
control officer. Fitted with an optical sight on top of the cockpit, it is able to fire up to 4
HOT (range 400-4,000m) ATGMs in the daylight. Its cruise speed is 260km and range is 580km. Since
acquired in the late 80s, these Gazelles have provided PLA Army valuable experience of
conducting modern anti-armor warfare using attack helicopters.
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S-70C-2 Black Hawk 
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24 Sikorsky S-70C-2s equipped with a
nose-mounted weather radar and upgraded engines (T700-GE-701A, 1,723shp) were bought in 1985 (serial
numbers LH922xx, 932xx). Its cruise speed is 270km and range is 560km. Some are fitted with
shoulder-mounted wings with pylons which are able to carry 4 external fuel
tanks so that a longer range can be achieved. Most Black Hawks are used for troop
transportation and SAR in Tibet and in Xinjiang, due to their
exellent performance at high altitude. As the result a few were lost since then in the harsh
environment. Due to the shortage of spare parts caused by the US embargo, many of them were thought
to be barely operational and have been replaced by Mi-17/171s. It was reported that China was
negotiating with US in an attempt to acquire the badly needed spare parts, even additional S-70Cs.
There were also rumors that Chinese are trying to manufacture the parts themselves.
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Ka-28 Helix
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A Kamov Ka-28 helicopter was photographed by an amateur when it flew overhead
somewhere near Shanghai. PLAN acquired two Ka-28 ASW helicopters in
1997 for evaluation purpose. Later it received four ASW version and four SAR version in 1999. An
independent Ka-28 regiment was then established at the East Sea Fleet by the Naval Aviation in order
to train new pilots to fly the helicopter. These Ka-28 ASW helicopters
(serial # 97x6?) are expected be stationed onboard Luhai 167 DDG as well as two Sovremenny destroyers
purchased from Russia, where they may also provide over-the-horizon target informaion for the SS-N-22
supersonic missile. The import of Ka-28 from Russia indicates it was selected over the lighter and
less well equiped Z-9C for ASW missions, even though the later has become the standard ASW
helicopter for smaller Luhu class DDG and Jiangwei class FFG. However it is still unclear what types of
weapon will be carried by the helicopter.
|
|
An Mi-171 was on a long-range mission somewhere in Southeast China
carrying 6 external fuel tanks. It is one of the over 100 Russian-made Mi-17/171s (serial
numbers LH917xx, 927xx, 937xx, 947xx, 957xx, 967xx, 987xx, 997xx) which represent the majority of
medium transport helicopters in service with PLA Army Aviation (LH). In order to replace the
obsolete Z-5/Mi-4, 24 Mi-17s were initially purchased in 1991
following the US government's refusal to sell more S-70C Black Hawks. Since then
another 35 improved Mi-171s were purchased in 1995. Among them, some were modifed by adding
IFF and external pylons for carrying up to six bombs, fuel tanks,
or rocket launchers. Some are also modified to lay mines or carry
paratroopers. However unlike the similar type in service with Russian Army (Mi-8TV), these
locally modified Mi-171s appear to lack cockpit armor plates, nose machine gun, chaff
launchers or engine IR suppressors. Its cruise speed is 230km and range is 1,000km. The latest
report indicated that the newest Mi-17-V5s (or Mi-8MTV-5, 35
were ordered in 2000, serial number CUAxx) featuring a solid nose and a loading ramp were recently
acquired in 2001. Apparently this cheap, robust and versatile helicopter has become the backbone of
LH.
8 SA-342
anti-tank helicopters are also in service with PLA Army as its first generation attack helicopter
(serial number LH943xx). This small helicopter has only two crews, the pilot and the weapon
control officer. Fitted with an optical sight on top of the cockpit, it is able to fire up to 4
HOT (range 400-4,000m) ATGMs in the daylight. Its cruise speed is 260km and range is 580km. Since
acquired in the late 80s, these Gazelles have provided PLA Army valuable experience of
conducting modern anti-armor warfare using attack helicopters.
24 Sikorsky S-70C-2s equipped with a
nose-mounted weather radar and upgraded engines (T700-GE-701A, 1,723shp) were bought in 1985 (serial
numbers LH922xx, 932xx). Its cruise speed is 270km and range is 560km. Some are fitted with
shoulder-mounted wings with pylons which are able to carry 4 external fuel
tanks so that a longer range can be achieved. Most Black Hawks are used for troop
transportation and SAR in Tibet and in Xinjiang, due to their
exellent performance at high altitude. As the result a few were lost since then in the harsh
environment. Due to the shortage of spare parts caused by the US embargo, many of them were thought
to be barely operational and have been replaced by Mi-17/171s. It was reported that China was
negotiating with US in an attempt to acquire the badly needed spare parts, even additional S-70Cs.
There were also rumors that Chinese are trying to manufacture the parts themselves.
A Kamov Ka-28 helicopter was photographed by an amateur when it flew overhead
somewhere near Shanghai. PLAN acquired two Ka-28 ASW helicopters in
1997 for evaluation purpose. Later it received four ASW version and four SAR version in 1999. An
independent Ka-28 regiment was then established at the East Sea Fleet by the Naval Aviation in order
to train new pilots to fly the helicopter. These Ka-28 ASW helicopters
(serial # 97x6?) are expected be stationed onboard Luhai 167 DDG as well as two Sovremenny destroyers
purchased from Russia, where they may also provide over-the-horizon target informaion for the SS-N-22
supersonic missile. The import of Ka-28 from Russia indicates it was selected over the lighter and
less well equiped Z-9C for ASW missions, even though the later has become the standard ASW
helicopter for smaller Luhu class DDG and Jiangwei class FFG. However it is still unclear what types of
weapon will be carried by the helicopter.
