China’s CCTV news channel recently sent a rare reporter to visit the Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter manufacturing plant in Russia to provide a detailed report on the performance of the helicopter, which was described as “one of the most advanced helicopter gunships in the world”.
Almost at the same time, Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV also conducted an interview with the Ka-52 helicopter’s sales director.
This has to be thought-provoking, and some speculated that China has placed a huge order for the Ka-52 helicopters for the Type 075 aviation amphibious assault ships (LHD).
The first 075 amphibious assault ship in service is only equipped with Z-8 medium transport helicopters., and even if the rumored Z-20 is also on board, the Type 075 ship’s attack power is far from adequate.
And limited by the lack of engine power, China’s only domestically produced helicopter gunship WZ-10 will face a serious lack of range if onboard. As seen in the report, the WZ-10 gunship only carries two secondary fuel tanks and two 7-barrel rocket nests when it takes off and lands from the ship.
According to rumors, the WZ-10 helicopter gunship has adopted an improved version of the WZ9 Turboshaft engines with a maximum power of 1200 kW, compared to the 957 KW of the WZ9, but still much lower than the 1638 KW of the AH-1Z engine.
The Ka-52KM single-engine power reached 1629KW, the same level as the AH-1Z, its fuel capacity is 1360 liters, while the AH-1Z is only 758 liters, the Ka-52KM is almost twice the AH-1Z. And the Russian media has reported that the Ka-52KM’s combat radius reaches 250 km and its maximum range is 1200 km, which the AH-1Z cannot compare with.
If China buys the Ka-52 helicopters for its Type 075 amphibious assault ships, it will be integrated with China’s domestic weapons and data chain on top of the Ka-52’s current improved avionics.
The second and third Type 075 amphibious assault ships of China will reportedly be commissioned within six months.