With a deal to supply six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Army being signed during the recent India visit of President Donald Trump, the Pakistan Army appears to be nervous.
In July last year, the Indian Air Force took delivery of the first of 22 Apache helicopters, meant for destroying tanks and providing fire support to troops. The Indian Army had an original requirement for 39 Apache helicopters for its three Strike Corps, meaning follow-on orders are likely.
Flight Global, an international aviation news site, reported on Thursday that the Pakistan Army is looking at getting new attack helicopters. The Pakistan Army has had trouble buying new attack helicopters in recent years. In 2015, Pakistan sought the purchase of 15 AH-1Z 'Viper' attack helicopters from Bell Helicopters, a US firm, at an estimated cost of $952 million.
The AH-1Z is lighter than the Apache and has a lower operating altitude. However, the transfer of the AH-1Z fleet to Pakistan was embargoed in June 2018 after the Donald Trump administration announced a freeze on military aid to Islamabad.
In 2018, Pakistan agreed to a $1.5 billion deal with Turkey to buy 30 T-129 attack helicopters, a design Ankara developed from an older Italian chopper. The T-129 uses an engine manufactured by LHTEC, a joint venture of Rolls Royce and Honeywell, a US company. The US government has not given Turkey export licences for the engine.
Major General Syed Najeeb Ahmed, commander of the Pakistan Army's aviation unit, told Flight Global that Islamabad had given Turkey time till July this year for a "final decision" on the supply of the T-129.
New attack helicopters are considered vital for the Pakistan Army, which relies on ageing US-supplied AH-1F 'Cobra' helicopters. “The Cobras are no match for the Apaches that the Indians are getting,” Ahmed said, adding “We definitely want to match that [capability].”
Jane's Defence Weekly quoted a former Pakistan Army official as saying its current AH-1F helicopters " cannot be employed effectively in high-altitude operations above 8,000ft".
Ahmed claimed, “We are looking at other options. One of them is in China in the shape of the new attack helicopter they have created called the Z-10ME... In case the first two options (US and Turkish aircraft) do not materialise, this third option will be considered.”
The Z-10 is considered China's first purpose-built attack helicopter. The Z-10 first flew in 2003 and was reportedly designed with assistance of the Kamov design bureau in Russia. The Z-10 is in service with the People's Liberation Army.
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Interestingly, Pakistan had conducted trials of both the T-129 and Z-10 in 2015-2016. Reports suggested the Chinese helicopter had under-performing engines, which minimised its effectiveness in carrying a maximum load of weapons and in operations in high-altitude areas.
Ahmed told Flight Global the latest iteration of the Z-10 had "improved weapons and systems".
Earlier this month, China's Global Times reported the People's Liberation Army had unveiled a new variant of the Z-10 that was likely to have upgraded engines, which would enable it to carry heavier payloads and possibly be equipped with "additional millimetre wave fire control radar".
A distinguishing feature of the Apache helicopters being ordered by the Indian Army and Air Force is their 'Longbow' millimetre wave radar, which can detect up to 256 targets.