The South China Sea Fleet of the Chinese Army publicized its combat exercise images on January 6, and for the first time confirmed that the Z-20 anti-submarine type has been in service, which is called Z-20F by the outside.
Warships dispatched for the exercise include “Yuncheng” 054A missile frigate, “Yongzhou” 056A missile frigate, and the fighters include J-11BH fighter, JH-7A fighter-bomber. Besides, there was also type 093A nuclear attack submarine.
In the introduction of landing ship brigade exercise at sea, China’s South Sea Fleet for the first time revealed images of Z-20F anti-submarine helicopters.
Z-20F is a naval version of the Z-20 helicopter, it’s also referred to as “Z-20 ASW Helicopter” which means “Z-20 anti-submarine warfare helicopter”. Z-20F made its debut earlier, which resembles the U.S. Army’s SH-60 Seahawk helicopter and fills a gap in the Chinese Navy’s long-standing lack of 10-ton utility helicopters.
The most conspicuous feature of the Z-20F is that there is a disc-shaped fairing at the bottom of the fuselage, which is said to be equipped with a sea search radar. The rear of the fairing is equipped with a dipping sonar device, and both sides of the fuselage are equipped with pylons for anti-submarine torpedos.
Since Z-20F was introduced as a part of the landing fleet, this batch of the helicopters is likely to be used on Type 075 amphibious assault ship, the first of which has been in the South China Sea Fleet Sanya station for the final test before service.
It is reported that in addition to 075, the Chinese Navy’s Shandong ship, Liaoning ship carrier, type 055 large-scale 10,000-ton destroyer, and type 052D improved destroyer will all be equipped with Z-20F naval helicopters in the future.