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China AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
Harbin Z-19
A light reconnaissance and attack helicopter developed by Harbin from the Z-9 (itself a license-built Eurocopter Dauphin derivative), fielding a tandem-seat cockpit and mast-mounted sight. It serves the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force as a scout and anti-armor helicopter alongside the heavier Z-10.
In service since 2011 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
305
km/h
550
km range
6,000
m ceiling
600
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 · 1 operator
In service since 2011. Status: active · ~200 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
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.
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.
- 305 km/h Stronger than 61% of helicopters
- Cruise speed
Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station.
- 245 km/h Stronger than 20% of helicopters
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 550 km Stronger than 33% of helicopters
- Service ceiling
Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.
- 6,000 m Stronger than 69% of helicopters
- Rate of climb
How fast the aircraft gains altitude. Higher means better energy recovery in combat.
- 9 m/s Stronger than 11% of helicopters
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 23 mm cannon pod (mission-dependent)
- Hardpoints
External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.
- 4 Stronger than 41% of helicopters
- Weapons payload
Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.
- 600 kg Stronger than 12% of helicopters
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
- Armor
Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified.
- Limited armored cockpit 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.
- 12 m
- Height
Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles.
- 3.78 m
- Empty weight
Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.
- 2,300 kg
- Combat weight
Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.
- 4,500 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-8A turboshaft, 730 hp each
- Engines
Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost.
- 2
- Engine power
Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster.
- 730 hp Bottom 7% of helicopters
- 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 Stronger than 53% of helicopters
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 1 Stronger than 18% of helicopters
Specifications compiled from public AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 has a maximum speed of 305 km/h.
What is the range of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 has a maximum range of 550 km.
What is the weapons payload of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 can carry up to 600 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 weigh? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 has a combat weight of 4,500 kg.
How many crew does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 require? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 requires a crew of 2.
What is the main armament of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19's primary weapon is the 23 mm cannon pod (mission-dependent).
What engine does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 use? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 is powered by the 2x WZ-8A turboshaft, 730 hp each.
What is the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 used for? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 is a helicopter typically used for close air support, anti armor, isr.
How many countries operate the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19 cost? +
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Harbin Z-19: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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