Aviation / Aerospace

CAIC Z-11

Multirole Light Utility / Attack Helicopter [ 1998 ]

The CAIC Z-11 light helicopter became the first Chinese helo to be entirely designed on CAD systems - it is based on the French Eurocopter Ecureuil.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/06/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The French-originated Eurocopter (Airbus) Ecureuil forms the basis of the relatively new Chinese-designed and -developed CAIC 'Z-11'. The Z-11 is a light utility helicopter developed for both military and civilian markets and is showcased with a broad spectrum of inherent capabilities. It is similar in role and function to the American MD Helicopters MD500 (Hughes Model 500) light series helicopters which has proven a global favorite (over 4,500 having been built).

Development of the Z-11 was started in 1989 and involved heavy reliance on CAD systems (indeed the Z-11 is billed as the first all-CAD/CAM designed Chinese helicopter). The prototype achieved a first-flight on December 22nd, 1994 and, by late October of 2000, the helicopter had completed the requisite testing and certification phases. The Z-11 was introduced in September of 1998 and is manufactured by the Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC).

As completed, the Z-11 features a length of 11.25 meters, a diameter (rotor included) of 10.7 meters and a height of 3.15 meters. Its empty weight is 1,120 kilograms against an MTOW of 2,200 kg. Power is from a Chinese-built WZ-8D series turboshaft engine developing 684 horsepower and driving a three-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail rotor (set to starboard).

The frontal section of the fuselage is largely windowed for excellent vision out-of-the-cockpit. The pilot(s) enter and exit by way of automobile-style doors along the fuselage sides. The passenger cabin is fitted directly aft of the cockpit with the engine compartment along the roof. The undercarriage sports a simple twin skid arrangement connecting to the underside of the aircraft at four points. The empennage is slender and houses the drive shaft for the tail rotor.

Armed versions of the helicopter have been featured with wingstubs for mounting variable armament including Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs). Door positions have also been outfitted with either machine guns or Automatic Grenade Launchers (AGLs) atop pintle mounts. A chin-mounted optics set is also noted on these armed birds.

There are several variants of the base Z-11 design planned and this includes the civilian market 'Z-11' itself. The Z-11J is a militarized form modified for the rigors of service. The Z-11W is an armed version designed to undertake various roles including reconnaissance, suppression and MEDEVAC. The Z-11WA is a lightened scout platform. The Z11MB1 features the Arriel 2B1A series engine from France. The Z-11ME1 is another noted variant. The CZ11W is a dedicated light-attack form carrying either Chinese or French engines and supports the usual attack ordnance including guided missiles, rocket pods and gun pods. The Z-11WB is an attack-reconnaissance platform with all-new cockpit, weapons stations and increased mission equipment.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1998

Origin

China

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

2

Production

46
UNITS

Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) - China

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

China

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

✓ Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

✓ Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.

✓ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

Length

36.9 ft
(11.25 m)

Width/Span

35.1 ft
(10.70 m)

Height

10.3 ft
(3.15 m)

Empty Wgt

2,469 lb
(1,120 kg)

MTOW

4,850 lb
(2,200 kg)

Wgt Diff

+2,381 lb
(+1,080 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the CAIC Z-11J production variant)

Installed: 1 x WZ-8D turboshaft engine developing 684 horsepower driving a three-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail rotor.

Max Speed

173 mph
(278 kph | 150 kts)

Ceiling

17,192 ft
(5,240 m | 3 mi)

Range

373 mi
(600 km | 1,111 nm)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the CAIC Z-11J production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

OPTIONAL (role dependent):
CS/LM12 minigun, LGS3 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL), 7.62mm/12.7mm machine gun pods, rocket pods, Air-to-Surface Missiles (ASMs), Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs), conventional and precision-guided drop bombs.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun

Graphical image of an aircraft heavy machine gun

Graphical image of an aircraft Gatling-style rotating gun

Graphical image of an aircraft machine gun pod

Graphical image of an air-to-air missile weapon

Graphical image of a short-range air-to-air missile

Graphical image of an aircraft air-to-surface missile

Graphical image of aircraft aerial rockets

Graphical image of an aircraft rocket pod

Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition

Graphical image of an aircraft guided bomb munition

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 2

Z-11 - Base Series Designation; civilian market form.

Z-11J - Militarized variant of the Z-11.

Z-11W - Armed military variant for multirole use.

Z-11WA - Military scout platform

Z-11MB1 - Outfitted with alternative French-based Arriel 2B1A series turboshaft engine.

Z-11ME1 - Variant

CZ-11W - Armed light-attack platform with either Chinese or French engine; revamped over-battlefield capabilities and systems.

Z-11WB - Armed attack-reconnaissance variant; all-new cockpit; revised weapons support and capabilities; multirole functionality.

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