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China's Z-20 Helicopter: A Game Changer for Anti-Submarine Warfare
China's advanced Z-20 helicopter, displayed at the Zhuhai air show, is poised to significantly enhance the country's anti-submarine warfare capabilities, addressing a key weakness in its naval fleet.
English
United States
TechnologyMilitaryChinaMilitary TechnologyIndo PacificNavyHelicopter
People’s Liberation Army Navy (Plan)S. Rajaratnam School Of International StudiesPentagonInternational Institute For Strategic StudiesLockheed Martin
Collin Koh
- What is the significance of the Z-20J and Z-20F variants?
- The Z-20J is an armed naval variant and a key step towards the fully developed Z-20F anti-submarine platform. It is expected to significantly improve China's ASW capabilities, extending the operational distance for anti-submarine combat.
- What is the Z-20 helicopter and what are its main features?
- The Z-20 helicopter is a new Chinese military helicopter with sleek looks similar to the U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk. It's designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), a key weakness in the Chinese navy.
- How will the Z-20 impact the Chinese navy's capabilities at sea?
- The Z-20's potential impact at sea stems from its ability to address gaps in China's anti-submarine capabilities. This is crucial because current helicopters either lack range or are too heavy to deploy from smaller vessels.
- What is the expert opinion on the future role of the Z-20 in the Chinese navy?
- Collin Koh, a security scholar at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, believes the Z-20 will become the standard naval and anti-submarine helicopter for China due to its versatility in deployment across various naval vessels.
- How does the Z-20 compare to similar Western counterparts in terms of capabilities?
- Reports suggest that the Z-20F's capabilities exceed those of the U.S. MH-60R helicopter. This improvement is attributed to its greater range, allowing for extended anti-submarine operations far from its host ships.