Chinese Helicopter Modernization: China Appears to Copy and Tries to Catch Bell’s  V-280

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

China appears to be embarking upon an ambitious long-term plan to keep pace with US advances in helicopter technology by emphasizing speed, stealth and innovative, next-generation designs.

The developer of China’s mainstay Z-10 helicopter specifically cited the advanced speeds of the V-22 Osprey and SB-1 Defiant helicopter, saying “within 10 years, it will be the norm for helicopters, or rotorcraft in general, to feature high speed,” according to the Chinese government-backed Global Times newspaper.

Bell Helicopter

Interestingly, the Chinese paper cites the benchmark of 300 miles per hour, a speed which the operational Bell Helicopter V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft has repeatedly demonstrated in recent years. 

The US Future Vertical Lift program has for many years now been building a new generation of rotorcraft designs, weapons and propulsion systems, so it appears as thought the Chinese may be years behind the US Army when it comes to engineering high-speed helicopter technology.

Unlike the traditional configuration of previous helicopters, the new ones will have very different designs, including those that were made to break the physical speed limit of about 300 kilometers an hour restricted by the traditional design…… 

It will require exploration and innovation by helicopter designers to achieve high speeds while maintaining the vertical takeoff and landing capabilities,” the Chinese paper states, quoting Wu Ximing, deputy head of the Chinese Aeronautical Establishment and chief designer of the PLA’s Z-10 attack helicopter.

Bell Helicopter V-280 Valor

Wu reportedly told the Chinese paper that the PLA will reportedly be able to unveil new high-speed helicopter designs in about 10 years, whereas the US already has several airborne compound configuration rotorcraft in its FVL program with Bell’s V-280 Valor and Lockheed-Sikorsky-Boeing’s Defiant. Each of these new us-industry built offerings, now competing in the Army’s FVL selection program, are engineered to reach paradigm-changing speeds while preserving an ability to maneuver, hover and operate close to uneven terrain with new levels of agility.