What Helicopters Does China Have? Z-20, Z-10 and Z-8

China’s military helicopter fleet has grown rapidly over the past 15 years, and the PLA Army now has about 1,000 helicopters, according to Western estimates. Its main types are the Z-20 medium utility helicopter, often compared with the American Black Hawk, the Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters, and the Z-8 and Z-18 heavy transports. The navy uses versions of the Z-20 and Z-18 on its destroyers, carriers and amphibious ships.

This guide covers China’s main military helicopters and the role they would play, especially in a conflict over Taiwan.

What helicopters does China have?

For decades China relied on a handful of helicopter types, many copied from French or Soviet designs, and on Russian Mi-17s bought in large numbers. That has changed with the arrival of home-grown designs such as the Z-20 and Z-10. Most military helicopters belong to the PLA Army’s aviation brigades, with smaller fleets in the navy, air force and the People’s Armed Police.

Z-20: China’s Black Hawk

The Z-20 is a 10-tonne-class medium helicopter that first flew in 2013 and entered service around 2019. Its shape and size are so close to those of the American UH-60 Black Hawk that it is often called the “Copy Hawk”, though it has a five-blade rotor and Chinese engines. China bought a small number of Black Hawks from the United States in the 1980s and operated them on the Tibetan plateau. The Z-20 is now produced in several versions, including the navy’s Z-20F anti-submarine helicopter and an attack variant with stub wings for missiles. American helicopters are covered in our guide to US military helicopters.

Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters

The Z-10, China’s first purpose-built attack helicopter, entered service around 2010. It has the narrow, tandem two-seat layout of the American Apache and carries anti-tank missiles, rockets and a cannon, though it is lighter and less heavily armoured. The Z-19, a lighter scout and attack helicopter developed from the Z-9, works alongside it. Both regularly train for amphibious operations, which would be critical in any attempt to cross the Taiwan Strait. For comparison, see our profile of the AH-64 Apache.

Naval and heavy-lift helicopters

At sea, Chinese destroyers and frigates carry Z-9 and Z-20F helicopters for anti-submarine and search missions, while the carriers described in our guide to Chinese aircraft carriers use the larger Z-18, including early-warning and anti-submarine versions. Heavy-lift Z-8s and Z-18s would carry troops and vehicles from the Type 075 and Type 076 amphibious ships, which are covered in a later article in this series. China is also developing a larger heavy-lift helicopter in cooperation with Russia.

How does China compare?

The United States still has the world’s largest military helicopter fleet, with thousands of aircraft across its services. China’s fleet is smaller and younger, and its crews have little combat experience. Its growth, however, is aimed squarely at moving troops quickly across water and difficult terrain, which is exactly what a Taiwan campaign would require. Britain’s smaller fleet is described in our guide to British military helicopters.

Frequently asked questions

What helicopters does China have?

China’s main military helicopters are the Z-20 utility helicopter, the Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters, the Z-8 and Z-18 heavy transports, the Z-9 and Russian-built Mi-17s.

What is the Z-20?

A Chinese 10-tonne-class medium utility helicopter, similar in size and shape to the American UH-60 Black Hawk, in service since about 2019.

What is China’s attack helicopter?

The Z-10, a tandem two-seat attack helicopter armed with anti-tank missiles, rockets and a cannon, supported by the lighter Z-19.

How many helicopters does China have?

China does not publish the figure. Western estimates put PLA Army Aviation at about 1,000 helicopters.

Is the Z-20 a copy of the Black Hawk?

It closely resembles the Black Hawk, which China operated in small numbers, but it has a five-blade rotor, Chinese engines and its own avionics.

What helicopters do Chinese warships carry?

Destroyers and frigates carry Z-9 and Z-20F helicopters, while carriers and amphibious ships use the larger Z-18 and Z-8.