Documents
China AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
Z-10
China's first indigenous dedicated attack helicopter, developed by CAIC (part of AVIC) as a tandem-seat, dual-engine gunship for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. It is designed primarily for anti-armor and battlefield interdiction roles alongside the lighter Z-19 scout helicopter.
In service since 2012 · 2 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-01
300
km/h
800
km range
6,400
m ceiling
1,500
kg payload
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 2 operators
In service since 2012. Status: active · ~200 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the Z-10 can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 300 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 270 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 800 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 6,400 m |
| Rate of climb How fast the aircraft gains altitude. Higher means better energy recovery in combat. | 11 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 30 mm chin-mounted cannon |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 4 |
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 1,500 kg |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | Armored cockpit tub for crew protection |
|---|---|
| Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers. | radar/laser warning receivers, chaff, flares |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 14.15 m |
|---|---|
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 3.85 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 5,540 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 7,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 2 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x WZ-9 turboshaft, 1000-1300 hp each (estimated) |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 1,300 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboshaft |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | mast-mounted electro-optical/infrared sighting system, helmet-mounted display |
|---|---|
| Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations. | Yes |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 200 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 2 |
Specifications compiled from public AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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Z-10 vs
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LAH Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 has a maximum speed of 300 km/h.
What is the range of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 has a maximum range of 800 km.
What is the weapons payload of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 can carry up to 1,500 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 weigh? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 has a combat weight of 7,000 kg.
How many crew does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 require? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 requires a crew of 2.
What is the main armament of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10's primary weapon is the 30 mm chin-mounted cannon.
What engine does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 use? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 is powered by the 2x WZ-9 turboshaft, 1000-1300 hp each (estimated).
What is the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 used for? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 is a helicopter typically used for close air support, anti armor.
How many countries operate the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 is operated by 2 countries.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10 cost? +
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-10: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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