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Chinese military showcases naval variant of advanced

helicopter

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A key step on way to submarine hunting improvements

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Z-20 deployments expected to expand, giving navy greater

reach

By Greg Torode

HONG KONG, Nov 12 (Reuters) - With sleek looks mirroring

the U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk, the Chinese military's advanced Z-20

helicopter packs a punch but may make its biggest impact at sea,

analysts said as it was displayed at China's biggest air show in

Zhuhai on Tuesday.

The Z-20's potential at sea to plug gaps in the Chinese

navy's ability to protect itself from submarines is attracting

scrutiny from regional defence attaches and security scholars

charting its evolution after a decade of development.

State media recently highlighted the first armed assault

version of the helicopter, and on Tuesday the military showcased

the Z-20J armed naval variant - a key step towards a full-blown

anti-submarine platform, the Z-20F.

Although China is fielding ever-more advanced warships as

part of its long-term military modernisation, it struggles to

shield them, including its emerging aircraft carrier fleet, from

undersea attacks - a capability already finely honed by many of

its rivals.

Pentagon reports and Western analysts have long noted that

weaknesses in the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN)

anti-submarine capabilities could hurt longer-range naval

deployments in a conflict.

The Pentagon's latest public report on China's military

modernisation, released in October 2023, noted a naval version

of the Z-20 was under development.

"The Z-20F is similar to the U.S. Navy's SH-60 and will

provide significant improvements in ASW (anti-submarine warfare)

capabilities over the smaller... helicopters the PLAN currently

operates," the Pentagon report said.

Singapore-based security scholar Collin Koh said the navy's

Z-8 and Z-9 helicopters were too heavy and too light,

respectively, limiting the kind of ships they can operate from,

their range and payloads of sensors and weapons.

They are also based on 1980s European designs obtained

before defence technology sanctions took effect against Beijing

after the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.

"The Z-20 is therefore the answer," said Koh, of the S.

Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

He said he expected the Z-20 to soon become the standard

naval and anti-submarine helicopter, given its ability to land

on ships ranging from corvettes and destroyers to aircraft

carriers.

The Taiwan navy's academic publication, Navy Professional

Journal, in December 2022 published a lengthy piece on the

development of China's anti-submarine helicopters, noting some

of the Z-20F's capabilities exceeded that of the U.S. MH-60R,

made by Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of Lockheed Martin ( LMT ).

"The entry into service of the Z-20F will effectively extend

the operational distance for antisubmarine combat for destroyers

and corvettes," it said, adding it would be double the range of

the existing fleet.

Modern anti-submarine tactics involved helicopters operating

far from their host ships, hunting and tracking enemy vessels

with various sensors, coordinating with ships and other

aircraft. Most also carry lightweight weapons, such as depth

charges and torpedoes, but generally other platforms are used to

attack submarines.

Tuesday's display followed state media reports in May that

Z-20 now had an assault capability and said anti-submarine

versions were being developed. No date was given.

In its latest annual assessment of international military

deployments, the London-based International Institute for

Strategic Studies notes that China has so far fielded 15 Z-20

helicopters for search and rescue work.