Pakistan's Z-10ME Attack Helicopter Makes a Grand Appearance, Why Say It Can Easily Shoot Down India's Apache?

Recently, Pakistan officially announced that the Z-10ME attack helicopter imported from China has started to be deployed. This news immediately attracted worldwide attention. The Z-10ME is a new type of high-performance attack helicopter. Its entry into the Pakistani Army Aviation Corps will definitely greatly enhance the combat capability of the Pakistani Army Aviation Corps.

Many military enthusiasts are now passionately discussing an issue: compared to the Apache helicopters equipped by India, can the Z-10ME compete with them? If we compare their performance, it will be clear that the Z-10ME is not only capable of competing with the Apache, but in some particularly important aspects, it has especially outstanding advantages that can surpass the Apache.

Highland Performance: Z-10ME Has the Upper Hand

The area near the India-Pakistan border is mostly mountainous and highland terrain. Whether a helicopter can fly well and perform effectively on the plateau directly affects the actual effect of warfare. Imagine, at high altitudes where the air is thin, the power of the helicopter engine will decrease. As a result, its ability to carry weight and maneuverability, which are particularly important, will be greatly affected.

The Z-10ME uses the independently developed WZ-9G engine, which is no small feat, as its power has increased to 1500 kilowatts. With this new engine, the Z-10ME flies and operates very efficiently on the plateau, performing remarkably well. According to test data, even at an altitude of 4,500 meters in the Kashmir region, the Z-10ME can still be fully loaded with weapons for combat, with only an 18% loss in power. This means it can carry sufficient weapons and ammunition, and flexibly perform various tasks.

Looking at the Indian Apache helicopter, due to limitations in engine technology, it can only carry half the load when operating on the plateau. As a result, the number of weapons it can carry decreases, its attack capability weakens, and its maneuverability in complex environments on the plateau also becomes worse, making it difficult to cope with sudden situations. In key battlefields on the border, the Z-10ME has already taken the initiative with its excellent performance on the plateau.

When helicopters engage in air combat, specialized air-to-air missiles play a crucial role. The Tianyan-90 air-to-air missile installed on the Z-10ME is extremely powerful! It is the world's first air-to-air missile specifically designed for attack helicopters. This missile has infrared imaging guidance capabilities, enabling attacks from all directions and accurately tracking low-altitude targets. Moreover, its range reaches 6 kilometers, allowing it to launch attacks before the Apache's firepower can cover it.

The Indian Apache helicopter, however, does not have a dedicated air-to-air missile for air combat. During air combat, it can only temporarily deal with it using machine guns or general missiles. This makes it lack effective countermeasures during air combat, leaving it in a passive defensive position. If it encounters the Z-10ME, it will definitely be at a disadvantage in air combat.

The Z-10ME's ground attack capability is equally overwhelming. It is equipped with the CM-502KG air-to-ground missile, which is a "long-range killer weapon"! This missile was developed and manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It weighs only 45 kilograms and has a flight speed exceeding 1.1 Mach. Its warhead contains 11 kilograms of explosives, capable of easily penetrating 1000 mm of homogeneous steel armor, and it can reach up to 25 kilometers.

With image guidance and a bidirectional data link, the CM-502KG has the "fire-and-forget" capability, allowing it to conduct long-range precision strikes against Indian ground armored targets beyond the range of most field air defense systems. More importantly, this range exceeds that of the air-to-ground missiles carried by the Apache, meaning the Z-10ME can launch attacks before the Apache detects it. It can strike its supporting ground forces and directly threaten the helicopter itself.

In summary, the Z-10ME has significant advantages over the Indian Apache in key areas such as highland performance, air combat weapons, and long-range strikes. In the real battlefield environment along the India-Pakistan border, the Z-10ME is flexible, and can be easily deployed in complex terrains like highlands and mountains. Additionally, it has specialized air-to-air missiles that can seize air superiority, allowing the side to take the initiative in the air. Moreover, it can suppress the enemy with long-range firepower. Therefore, the Z-10ME can easily shoot down the Indian Apache helicopter, which is not just empty talk, but a realistic judgment based on the performance differences between the two.



Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7537233433165087241/

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