Pakistan has begun accepting Z-10ME attack helicopters from China as part of Islamabad’s tactical rotary-wing fleet modernization effort.
The deliveries have not been officially confirmed by either country but have been verified through multiple sources, including images and videos showing the Chinese-made aircraft bearing Pakistan Army insignia.
It is worth noting that Pakistan has been looking to upgrade its aging fleet of American-made AH-1F Cobra helicopters, which have been in use since the 1980s.
In response, the US agreed in 2015 to sell newer AH-1Z Vipers to the country, but the deal was put on hold due to strained relations between Washington and Islamabad.
This opened the door for China to offer the export variant of its homegrown Z-10 as an alternative.
Following these developments, speculation about Pakistan’s adoption of the Z-10ME has persisted for years. Although neither Chinese nor Pakistani officials have addressed a deal, recent information suggests the program is now past the initial production and trial phases.
The Z-10 System
Developed by China’s state-owned Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation, the Z-10 is a medium-weight attack helicopter designed for anti-tank operations and limited air-to-air combat.
It has a length of 14 meters (46 feet), a rotor diameter of 13 meters (43 feet), and is powered by twin WZ-9C turboshaft engines with about 1,600 horsepower each.
Users can arm the system with a revolving cannon, guided and unguided bombs, multi-domain missiles, and loitering munitions.
The Z-10 has an operational altitude of 6,400 meters (20,997 feet), a top speed of 160 knots (296 kilometers/184 miles per hour), and a range of 430 nautical miles (796 kilometers/495 miles).
Current estimates indicate that the People’s Liberation Army employs around 200 of the helicopters.
