Engineering:Changhe Z-8

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Short description: Chinese military helicopter
Z-8
A PLA Navy Z-8 onboards Changbai Shan (989)
General information
National originChina
ManufacturerChanghe Aircraft Industries Corporation
Management and usageSee Operators
History
Manufactured1989–present
Introduction date5 August 1989
First flight11 December 1985
Developed fromAérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon

The Changhe Z-8 is a Chinese three-engined heavy-lift military transport helicopter with utility and armed variants, manufactured by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation. It is a license-built variant of the French Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon.

History and development

China purchased French SA 321 Super Frelon in the 1970s and began licensed production of the Super Frelon locally in 1976. Developed by the Changhe Aircraft Company, the Chinese production was known as the Z-8. The local production project encountered difficulties and was halted until 1984. On 11 December 1985, the first Chinese-produced Z-8 took its maiden flight, and the second prototype took flight in October 1987. The Z-8 was delivered to the PLA Naval Aviation for trials and used for mine clearance, minelaying, and anti-submarine warfare with the initial production beginning in the same year. On 12 November 1994, the Z-8 was officially certified.[1][2]

In the 1990s, the Z-8 production slowed because the Chinese Navy did not have sufficient numbers of warships with large enough hangars to accommodate the Z-8. The smaller Harbin Z-9 was preferred. The production numbers were around 15-20. In 2002, a new program began to improve Z-8's avionics and serialization for services in other military branches. The PLA Ground Force requested a utility variant, designated Z-8F, which took its maiden flight in April 2004. The Z-8F was equipped with Pratt & Whitney turboshaft engines. The Z-8 was later derived to a dozen of different variants in all PLA branches, as well as the improved Changhe Z-18.[1][2]

China has also developed a domestic civil helicopter variant of the Z-8, which is marketed as the Avicopter AC313. The AC313 has a maximum takeoff weight of 13.8 tonnes, is capable of carrying up to 27 passengers, and has a maximum range of 900 km (560 mi).[3]

After the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Z-8 helicopter production received a massive boost as the event had proved the helicopter's value in humanitarian missions. New engine acquisition and design changes were implemented to improve some of the known issues that had affected the Z-8 for decades. The Chinese People's Armed Police ordered 18 Z-8 helicopters; by 2013, at least five helicopters had been delivered, and most had been assigned to forestry firefighting units. During subsequent earthquake relief operations, Z-8 helicopters have been deployed to perform rescue and logistical missions.[4]

Variants

PLA Ground Force Z-8A
Changhe Z-8
Original variant for the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLA Navy Aviation).[2]
Changhe Z-8A
Improved Z-8 with a higher domestic content rate. Used by the PLA Ground Force.[1]
Changhe Z-8B
Improved Z-8A with digital cockpit and electronic flight control system. Floats removed.[1]
Changhe Z-8C
Interim Z-8 model transitional model with the amphibious Z-8 airframe and Z-18 avionics for the PLA Navy.[5]
Changhe Z-8D
Advanced Z-8 for naval operations and amphibious assault support. Wide-body airframe similar to that of Z-8L.[6]
Changhe Z-8F
Chinese built version with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-67A turboshaft engines. Major improvements include new intake filtration systems, composite rotor wings, de-icing systems, new avionics, new auxiliary power unit (APU), etc.[1]
Changhe Z-8G
Z-8F with major improvements to engines and avionics. Also known as the Changhe Z-18A.[1]
PLA Navy Z-8J
Changhe Z-8J
Improved Z-8B. Used by the PLA Navy.[1]
Changhe Z-8JA
PLA Navy transport variant.[6]
Changhe Z-8JH
PLA Navy medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) variant.[1]
Changhe Z-8S
PLA Navy reconnaissance variant.[1]
PLA Air Force (PLAAF) Z-8KA
PLA Air Force (PLAAF) Z-8KA (later variant)
Changhe Z-8K
PLA Air Force search and rescue (SAR) variant.[2]
Changhe Z-8KA
PLA Air Force combat search and rescue (CSAR) variant.[2]
Changhe Z-8AEW
Chinese AEW helicopter with retractable radar antenna, AESA radar, 360 degree coverage, redesigned nose similar to the AC313, and FLIR.[7]
Changhe Z-8L with its widened airframe
Changhe Z-8L
Improved Z-8G with wide-body fuselage and enlarged fuel sponsons, first spotted in January 2019.[8] The internal width of the load area has been increased from 1.8m to 2.4 m, making it larger than old Z-8 and SA321 variants.[9]
Changhe Z-8WJ
People's Armed Police (PAP) variant. Combined elements from the Z-8B and the civilian AC312.[2]
Changhe Z-8WJS
PAP variant with IR camera, better datalink, and ability to carry firefighting bucket.[10]
Changhe Z-8AWJS
People's Armed Police Forestry Corps variant with firefighting capabilities.[11]
Avicopter AC313
Commercial helicopter model derived from the Z-8F.
Avicopter AC313A
Commercial helicopter model derived from the Z-8L
Changhe Z-18
Improved Z-8. A major overhaul of the Z-8F with improved high-altitude flight capability. It can operate at airports on the Tibetan Plateau with a service ceiling above 9,000 m (30,000 ft). Also called Z-8 Major Mods. (Chinese: 直-8大改) and Z-8F-100 during the development.[1][2]

Operators

 People's Republic of China
  • People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force: 9 Z-8; 13 Z-8J; 4 Z-8JH; 2 Z-8S.[12]
  • People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation: 135 Z-8F as of 2025.[13]
  • People's Liberation Army Air Force: 18 as of 2024.[12]
  • People's Armed Police

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 林俊安 (August 2020). "中共自製通用直升機直-8系列之研究". 陸軍後勤季刊 109 (3): 21. https://www.mnd.gov.tw/File/33999. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Rupprecht, Andreas (4 April 2019). "Z-8/Z-18 CHINA'S OWN 'SUPER HORNET'". https://www.key.aero/article/z-8z-18-chinas-own-super-hornet. 
  3. ↑ "AC313 Civil Helicopter". AirForceWorld.com. http://airforceworld.com/pla/ac313-z8-helicopter-china.htm. 
  4. ↑ "Z8 Helicopter production boost from 2008". AirForceWorld.com. http://www.airforceworld.com/pla/english/z8-helicopter-china.html. 
  5. ↑ "我海军最新直升机亮相 助陆战队空中突击营提升战力". 14 June 2018. http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/jssd/2018-06-14/doc-ihcwpcmq6555340.shtml. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Z-8". United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Z-8_(Zhishengji-8)_Chinese_Multi-Role_Helicopter. 
  7. ↑ "Chinese Military Aviation | China Air Force". http://cnair.top81.cn/Ka-31_Z-8AEW.htm. 
  8. ↑ Tate, Andrew (21 January 2019). "Image emerges of Z-8G helicopter variant". London, UK. https://www.janes.com/article/85859/image-emerges-of-z-8g-helicopter-variant. 
  9. ↑ Rupprecht, Andreas (21 August 2020). "Update: Images show wide-body variant of Z-8G helicopter undergoing load-carrying trials". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/update-images-show-wide-body-variant-of-z-8g-helicopter-undergoing-load-carrying-trials. 
  10. ↑ Cui, Jicheng; Sun, Yufeng (2013-01-20). "武警森林部队直升机支队新年首飞". in Zhang, Xueyang. https://news.12371.cn/2013/01/20/ARTI1358639122961977.shtml. 
  11. ↑ "Chinese Z-8AWJS crashes during aerial firefighting mission". 11 May 2021. https://www.key.aero/article/chinese-z-8awjs-crashes-during-aerial-firefighting-mission. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 International Institute for Strategic Studies, ed (2025). The Military Balance 2025. London: Routledge. p. 245-246. ISBN 978-1-041-04967-8. 
  13. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2025). The Military Balance 2025. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-041-04967-8. 

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