The first good news of 2021 is here. The photos of the Zhi-20 transport helicopter of the PLA Army Aviation Corps flying with 8 anti-tank missiles were published. The firepower is daunting!
Netizens said one after another: This is the complete body of the Zhi-20, and its explosive power is comparable to an armed helicopter.
In the photo, the Zhi-20 has a pair of short wings added, a composite pylon is mounted underneath, and at least 8 anti-tank missiles are carried. It is unclear whether there are rocket launching nests at the same time. At the same time, the Zhi-20 can also carry a door machine gun in the cabin, so this medium-sized general-purpose helicopter can be transformed into a "gunboat" in a second, and the taste of air assault transportation is very strong!
Some netizens said this is China's "Paving Eagle" helicopter, but it is not!
The "Paving Eagle" helicopter is a well-known model in the "Black Hawk" helicopter family, but in fact, the HH-60W "Paving Eagle" helicopter belongs to the Air Force combat/search and rescue helicopter. The main feature is the installation of aerial refueling probes, which can penetrate into the enemy. Although the US military pilots who were shot down in the environment rescue can carry a certain amount of armaments themselves, their firepower is generally not strong.
HH-60W "Paving Eagle" Air Force Combat/Search and Rescue Helicopter
In the American "Black Hawk" family, the real firepower king is the Army Aviation MH-60L "Infiltrator" special operations helicopter (also known as "direct actor").
MH-60L "Infiltrator" (DAP) is a fire suppression helicopter modified from MH-60 with offensive weapon system. It has the most advanced, complete and powerful airborne self-defense system, radar, laser, and missile warning devices. Jammer launchers and electronic warfare equipment are all available. The aircraft is equipped with porthole machine guns and equipped with ESSS short wings to mount weapons such as cannon pods, missiles, rockets, etc., with firepower comparable to heavy armed helicopters.
This is an aerial "gunboat" helicopter whose mission is to use a powerful attack system and precise navigation system to attack. But the price is that the aircraft does not have the commando carrying function, all crew members are to operate the aircraft or these powerful weapon systems. Therefore, a MH-60K helicopter with personnel carrying capacity is required.
The aircraft has strong firepower, equipped with 30mm chain guns, equipped with M134D Gatling guns at the side door or front end, and the short wings can use various types of American gunship weapons, including 70mm rockets, FIM-92 stinger air-to-air missiles, and AGM- 114 "Hellfire" anti-tank missile, GAU-19 Gatling heavy machine gun, etc.
In fact, the ESSS general-purpose short wing developed by the United States for the "Black Hawk" helicopter is capable of carrying these missile weapons, but the use of these weapon systems requires the cooperation of the electronic fire control system in the helicopter, so not all "Black Hawk" After the helicopter is equipped with ESSS short wings, it can transform into an "infiltrator".
The "Infiltrator" itself is an exclusive model of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment of the U.S. Army. This is the only aviation unit in the U.S. Army's Special Operations Forces. It is nicknamed "Viper" and codenamed "Night Stalker." Mainly responsible for providing helicopter transportation support and helicopter attack support to the Delta Force and other special forces.
The predecessor of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment was the D Company of the 159th Aviation Battalion formed in 1977. It was a helicopter support force created for the purpose of supporting night special operations. It was reorganized into the "160th Aviation Battalion" in 1981 and deployed to Kentucky, USA The Fort Campbell Army Base in the state, the size of the army gradually expanded and developed into a regiment. By May 1990, it was renamed the "160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment."
It also needs the cooperation of a powerful electronic fire control system
Back to the photo of Zhi-20 with anti-tank missiles!
Judging from the white missile and the test probe on the nose in the photo, this should be just a model counterweight, used to test the mounting capacity of the new Z-20 pylon, but it also shows that we have a MH-60L (DAP) ) This super heavy-fire helicopter has taken a big step.
In the future, the equipment of general-purpose pylons and the upgrade of the fire control system will make Zhi-20 even more powerful. It will not only be able to cooperate with armed helicopters such as Zhi-10 and Zhi-19, but also be able to face powerful enemies independently. The 20 firepower version should continue to maintain the carrying capacity of the soldiers, which is very suitable for the execution of beheading missions in the enemy's defense zone!
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