Documents
China AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China)
Z-9
A license-built and later indigenized derivative of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, produced by Harbin (part of AVIC) as a light multirole military helicopter. Serves the PLA in utility, anti-tank and naval anti-submarine variants.
In service since 1992 · 5 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
305
km/h
1,000
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
Established · 5 operators
In service since 1992. Status: active · ~1,000 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-9 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. | 305 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 245 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 1,000 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 6,000 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| 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. | 600 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 13.68 m |
|---|---|
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 3.6 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 2,050 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 4,100 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 2 |
| Troop capacity Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more. | 10 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x WZ-8A turboshaft engines |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 850 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboshaft |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 5 |
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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LAH Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 has a maximum speed of 305 km/h.
What is the range of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 has a maximum range of 1,000 km.
What is the weapons payload of the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 can carry up to 600 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 weigh? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 has a combat weight of 4,100 kg.
How many crew does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 require? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 requires a crew of 2.
What engine does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 use? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 is powered by the 2x WZ-8A turboshaft engines.
What is the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 used for? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 is a helicopter typically used for close air support, isr.
How many countries operate the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9? +
The AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 is operated by 5 countries.
How much does the AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9 cost? +
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Z-9: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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