Attack copter takes to skies in Airshow China 2012 (2)

Grainy and unverified photos of a Chinese attack helicopter have since appeared occasionally in Western aviation publications and websites.

But in January 2011 rumors gained momentum that the helicopter was close to entering service.

"We had waited so long for the public appearance of the WZ-10," said Liu Pei, a military enthusiast from Jiangsu province.

"We always had confidence that our country could eventually develop its own specialized attack helicopter.''

Overseas military observers claimed developers at the Aviation Industry Corp of China first installed the PT6C-67C, a turboshaft engine manufactured by Pratt & Whitney Canada, on the prototypes of the WZ-10.

However, developers had to adjust the original design after the US forced the Canadian company to terminate cooperation with China.

As a result, China accelerated the development of the Wozhou-9, an engine that China enjoys full intellectual property rights over.

The WZ-10 is one of the top three attack helicopters in the world, according to Wu Ximing, chief designer of the WZ-10.

Compared with the US AH-64 Apache, the WZ-10 has superior maneuverability and combat capability, though it lacks its thrust and firepower, he added.

"I think the low-altitude maneuverability of the WZ-10 is better than that of the Apache and the Russian Mil Mi-28, and the WZ-10 is difficult to pick up on radar,'' a senior Chinese military analyst, who declined to be named, said.

"Generally speaking, the WZ-10 is a big advance for the development of the PLA ground force aviation wing."

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