Harbin Z-19 Helicopter

Design and Development

The Z-19 is an upgraded tandem seat version of the Harbin Z-9W (similar to the development of the Bell AH-1 Cobra from the UH-1), using mechanical components derived from the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin series, as the Z-9 series are license-built versions of the Dauphin helicopters.

The Z-19 features a fenestron tail, reducing the noise level and therefore allowing it to achieve some level of acoustic stealthiness. The exhausts have also been designed to reduce the infrared signature. The helicopter is equipped with a millimeter-wave fire-control radar on top of its four-blade rotor. Unlike most other attack helicopters, it lacks a nose-mounted machine gun or autocannon.

The Z-19 also features armor plating, crash-resistant seats, and a turret with FLIR, TV, and laser rangefinder. It is also equipped with an advanced helmet mounted sight (HMS), which looks different from that of the CAIC Z-10.

The general designer of the Z-19 was Wu Ximing (吴希明) of the 602nd Research Institute, one of the Chinese top scientists involved in the 863 Program, after graduating from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1984. Wu had earlier participated in the designs of the armed version of the transport helicopters Z-8A, Z-11 and Z-9. He also participated in the development and flight testing of another Chinese attack helicopter, the CAIC Z-10. At the 9th Zhuhai Airshow held in November 2012, Aviation Industry Corporation of China formally announced the official names of the Z-10 and Z-19 at a televised news release conference, with both attack helicopters named after fictional characters in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Z-10 is named as Fierce Thunderbolt (Pili Huo, 霹雳火), the nickname of Qin Ming, while Z-19 is named as Black Whirlwind (Hei Xuanfeng, 黑旋风), the nickname of Li Kui.

Features

Fenestron Tail: The Z-19 features a fenestron tail, which reduces noise levels and allows for some acoustic stealthiness.
Infrared Signature Reduction: The exhausts are designed to lower the infrared signature.
Millimeter-Wave Fire-Control Radar: Positioned on top of its four-blade rotor, this radar enhances the helicopter’s targeting capabilities.
Armor and Crash Resistance: The Z-19 includes armor plating and crash-resistant seats.
Avionics: Equipped with a turret featuring FLIR, TV, and a laser rangefinder, and an advanced helmet-mounted sight (HMS), distinct from the CAIC Z-10.

Development

The general designer of the Z-19 was Wu Ximing of the 602nd Research Institute. Wu, a top Chinese scientist involved in the 863 Program, graduated from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1984 and previously worked on armed versions of the Z-8A, Z-11, and Z-9 helicopters, as well as the CAIC Z-10 attack helicopter. At the 9th Zhuhai Airshow in November 2012, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China officially named the Z-10 as “Fierce Thunderbolt” (Pili Huo), and the Z-19 as “Black Whirlwind” (Hei Xuanfeng), after characters from the classical Chinese novel Water Margin.

Variants

Z-19

The original version in service with the PLAGF.

Z-19E

Export version of the Z-19, with the first flight occurring on May 18, 2017. Several countries have expressed interest in acquiring this model.

Operators

People’s Republic of China

People’s Liberation Army Ground Force

Specifications (Z-19)

General Characteristics

Crew: Two, pilot and observer
Length: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 4.01 m (13 ft 2 in)
Empty Weight: 2,350 kg (5,181 lb)
Max Takeoff Weight: 4,250 kg (9,370 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × WZ-8C turboshafts, 700 kW (940 hp) each
Main Rotor Diameter: 11.93 m (39 ft 2 in)
Main Rotor Area: 111.79 m² (1,203.3 sq ft)

Performance

Maximum Speed: 280 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
Cruise Speed: 245 km/h (152 mph, 132 kn)
Range: 700 km (430 mi, 380 nmi)
Endurance: 4 hours
Service Ceiling: 6,000 m (19,685 ft)
Rate of Climb: 9 m/s (1,800 ft/min)

Armament

Pylons: 2 for rockets, gun pods, cannon pods
Missiles: 8× HJ-8 or other anti-tank/air-to-surface/anti-ship missiles, 8× TY-90 air-to-air missiles

Avionics

Radar: Millimeter-wavelength electronically scanned array radar

Comparable Aircraft

Agusta A129 Mangusta
Bell AH-1Z Viper
Boeing–Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche
CAIC Z-10
Denel Rooivalk
Eurocopter Tiger
HAL Light Combat Helicopter
IAIO Toufan
Kamov Ka-50
Kawasaki OH-1
Mil Mi-28
Panha 2091
TAI/AgustaWestland T129

Related Development

Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin/Eurocopter AS565 Panther
Harbin Z-9

Z-19

Harbin Z-19 making a low-level pass at Zhuhai Airshow 2012
Role	Reconnaissance and attack helicopter
Manufacturer	Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
First flight	2011
Introduction	2012
Status	In service
Primary user	People’s Liberation Army Air Force
Produced	2011-Present
Number built	186+
Developed from	Harbin Z-9W

References

“Harbin Z-19 Light scout and observation helicopter”. Military Today. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
“World Air Forces 2018”. FlightGlobal.
“Defence Tech: Friday Eye Candy: China’s Newest Attack Helo”. Defense Tech. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
“Z-19 Chinese New Attack Helicopter Prototype”. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
“The Aviationist: China’s Light Attack Helicopter Z-19: a silent (rather than radar evading) chopper”. The Aviationist. February 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
Roblin, Sebastien (14 January 2022). “Nobody Wants China’s Z-19 Helicopter”. The National Interest.
“成都军区13军武直19亮相头盔瞄准具”看锁打”瞬间完成_军事频道_中国军情_四川在线 (Z-19 HMS)”. military.scol.com.cn. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
“AVIC reveals official names of WZ-10 & 19”. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
WZ-10 & 19 names revealed Archived 2013-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
“China’s New Attack Helicopter Makes Maiden Flight”. The Diplomat. 22 May 2017.
“China’s New Attack Helicopter Completes Weapons Trials”. The Diplomat. 18 May 2019.

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