China's New Z-21 Helicopter Designed for India Clash, Says Aussie Expert

Images of the Z-21, a new Chinese attack helicopter, have ignited intense speculation about the aircraft's role in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Analysts see the Z-21 as a potential game-changer, particularly in the context of heightened tensions with India.

"The Z-21's design suggests it is optimized for high-altitude operations, making it a crucial asset on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas," observes Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

The Z-21 wouldn't just be limited to a Himalayan role, though; its versatility could also see it deployed in a potential conflict over Taiwan.

The Z-21 represents more than just a new helicopter. It's a stark indicator of China's focus on cutting-edge military technology and its growing assertiveness.

Of particular interest is whether China will equip the Z-21 with a 'manned-unmanned teaming' (MUM/T) system akin to that found in the latest Apache helicopters.

This would give China a potent tool for battlefield reconnaissance and precision strikes, letting the Z-21 direct armed drones while reducing its own risk.

Implications for India and Beyond​

The Z-21's emergence underscores the need for India and its allies to carefully monitor China's military modernization. Its capabilities could disrupt the existing balance of power in the Himalayas and beyond.

As China continues to build its arsenal, the Z-21 serves as a potent reminder of the security challenges that lie ahead.

 

[Pink Panther]

We need more heavy attack helicopters, 2 squadrons of Apache is no use, prachand is good for Siachin.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

A heavy attack helicopter for Himalayas?
Looks like the POMs had overdosed on vegemite.

 

[Kira]

We need more heavy attack helicopters, 2 squadrons of Apache is no use, prachand is good for Siachin.

Given the nature of such huge mountain ranges, any helicopter especially the more 'heavy' it is, will have a hard time operating in the narrow passes with hindered mobility and payload capacity besides being acutely vulnerable to shoulder fired munitions from unexpected positions.
Apaches or another heavy attack copter won't be of much use here given the above factors.
LCH or Prachand is decent enough given its low weight and high ceiling,but as a whole,it is not entirely desirable to have attack copters in such high mountainous regions,it's not their ideal stomping grounds.
IA should be more pragmatic,and induct more and more advanced should fired SAMs to counter such low altitude threats rather than get always jump the gun and go for more Apaches.

 

[Kira]

A heavy attack helicopter for Himalayas?
Looks like the POMs had overdosed on vegemite.

Yup,because a heavy copter would be less agile,slower and will it's payload capacity kneecapped severely.Its extra armour and more sophisticated avionics do provide certain advantages,but it's far from an ideal destination for such a heavy copter to operate.

 

[Bharat007]

India should also develop desi heavyweight Apaches. It will be cost effective and good for LAC of NE plus Indo-Pak front.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Yup,because a heavy copter would be less agile,slower and will it's payload capacity kneecapped severely.Its extra armour and more sophisticated avionics do provide certain advantages,but it's far from an ideal destination for such a heavy copter to operate.

Exactly. Drones or Quadcopter drones are better suited for high altitude operations.

Operating a heavy copter at that altitude would be like cutting cake with a sword. It would be large, clumsy and cumbersome.

 

[Anant]

India should also develop desi heavyweight Apaches. It will be cost effective and good for LAC of NE plus Indo-Pak front.

Heavyweight helicopters are not particularly advantageous for mountaineous combat. Light combat helicopters and drones are far more suited for that terrain.

 

[Akshat]

A heavy attack helicopter for Himalayas?
Looks like the POMs had overdosed on vegemite.

If you look at how Apaches operate, they are not all the same. They use a command based model. That is, some choppers have the long bow radar, not all. These choppers act as sort of surveillance systems. They detect and track enemy vehicles and help other choppers take them out.

Now extend that to a combination of light and heavy choppers. One heavy chopper providing targeting data while multiple light ones, more agile ones, take them out.

 

[Akshat]

India should also develop desi heavyweight Apaches. It will be cost effective and good for LAC of NE plus Indo-Pak front.

First let HAL integrate ATGMs on Prachand.

 

[Anil Kumar]

Instead of heavy choppers, more agile drones should be part of indian contingent.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

A heavy attack helicopter for Himalayas?
Looks like the POMs had overdosed on vegemite.

What does POM mean?

 

[amerjit johal]

A heavy attack helicopter for Himalayas?
Looks like the POMs had overdosed on vegemite.

POMS are what Aussies call the British.

 

[amerjit johal]

What does POM mean?

It's a slur that Aussies use on the British.
Like some stupid Westerners will refer to Indians as curry bashers.

 

[Sandeep]

To the north of India with its high altitude and freezing cold weather you need more lighter helicopters as heavy weight helicopters struggle to fly at that height, face a reduced engine power, reduced weight capacity and its weapons will not work as good as it can. In short this is a sitting helicopter with no chance of surviving. It can be a threat in the north east as they don't have to face the same weather conditions or environment but India has already inducted several squadrons of Apache helicopters which are much better with better weapons.

The Chinese often claim that their military equipment and weapons are superior and better but that's not the case. The technology is faulty, unreliable, poor quality, doesn't operate like they claim it can and doesn't do what they say etc.

India needs to quickly start designing and developing at least a brand new and dedicated medium weight attack helicopter with all of the advanced technology, guns, weapons, EW and technology like the Apache helicopter. If we simply develop the IMRH helicopter and install any weapons capabilities then it reduces its fighting capabilities and the technology and type of weapons will be more limited.

After that we need to develop a dedicated heavy attack helicopter which can carry more weapons, more weight, longer range, heavier missiles etc. We can't mix and match a transport helicopter for passengers or cargo with a heavy attack helicopter that needs a variety of weapons and equipment.

 

[Pink Panther]

Given the nature of such huge mountain ranges, any helicopter especially the more 'heavy' it is, will have a hard time operating in the narrow passes with hindered mobility and payload capacity besides being acutely vulnerable to shoulder fired munitions from unexpected positions.
Apaches or another heavy attack copter won't be of much use here given the above factors.
LCH or Prachand is decent enough given its low weight and high ceiling,but as a whole,it is not entirely desirable to have attack copters in such high mountainous regions,it's not their ideal stomping grounds.
IA should be more pragmatic,and induct more and more advanced should fired SAMs to counter such low altitude threats rather than get always jump the gun and go for more Apaches.

We have 95% flat borders than altitudes like Siachin, so Heavy attack helicopters like Apache are indispensable, with helicopters like Prachand with extremely low payload, range and less armor, it is just too dangerous to take on fire in close combat range, also we need to use many squadrons instead of just one or two which is not cost affective, this has been proven in Ukraine with KA-52 performing admirably, chinese realized this and made their third attack helicopter after their Z9 and Z10. We will eventually make a heavy attack helicopter based on IMRH, but until then we shouldn’t leave a void, it would be better to to acquire a few more squadrons of Apache.

 

[Pink Panther]

What does POM mean?

It is the name of a Pomegranate juice company.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Just need to have a robust AD grid in place, we should be able to take these out from a distance as soon as they show up on radar.

 

[Pink Panther]

A heavy attack helicopter for Himalayas?
Looks like the POMs had overdosed on vegemite.

Not all the places in Himalayas have a high altitude like Siachin.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

What does POM mean?

Many a theories exist of how the term came to be. POMs or POHM (Prisoner of his Majesty) or Pommies were slangs used to differentiate new British arrivals (often convicts from the British mainland) from the colonists born in the penal colony of Australia. Both POMs and Aussies were residents of Australia, yet they looked down on the other as people of inferior stock.
Either way you look at it, being a penal colony most Australians today can relate to British expatriate arrivals (or POMs) in the early 19th century. Discovery of gold in the later part of 19th century kick started next waves of immigration from the rest of Europe which made Australia a truly cosmopolitan European settlement.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

It's a slur that Aussies use on the British.
Like some stupid Westerners will refer to Indians as curry bashers.

The British claim that the Chicken Tikka Masala was invented in Great Britain though and they seem to genuinly love it.

 

[bonito]

Once again the same comment. Don't get obession with manned flights. Every life is valuable for us. Let's the machines fight and we have good air defence in place.

 

[Anton Sokolov]

Indian Army should stop buying 6-7 Apatche for billions of dollars and rather induct LCH Prachand and ask DRDO for its heavy weight version and invest in it along with Indian Airforce. This love for foreign product by Navy and Airforce has to end

 

[amerjit johal]

The British claim that the Chicken Tikka Masala was invented in Great Britain though and they seem to genuinly love it.

Over that last god knows how many years. The British have been served Sheeet by Indian Restaurants owned by
Bangladeshi's - calling it Indian food.
The Brits are catching on now.
Chicken Tikka Masala - creamy nice colour has very little heat. Maybe that's why Brits like it.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Over that last god knows how many years. The British have been served Sheeet by Indian Restaurants owned by
Bangladeshi's - calling it Indian food.
The Brits are catching on now.
Chicken Tikka Masala - creamy nice colour has very little heat. Maybe that's why Brits like it.

Haha, the goras like it as the bright red coloring fools them into believing that they possess a higher tolerance of scoville scale than they thought they could muster. BTW "Vindaloo" is another such scam propagated by the folks from Konkan belt.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Many a theories exist of how the term came to be. POMs or POHM (Prisoner of his Majesty) or Pommies were slangs used to differentiate new British arrivals (often convicts from the British mainland) from the colonists born in the penal colony of Australia. Both POMs and Aussies were residents of Australia, yet they looked down on the other as people of inferior stock.
Either way you look at it, being a penal colony most Australians today can relate to British expatriate arrivals (or POMs) in the early 19th century. Discovery of gold in the later part of 19th century kick started next waves of immigration from the rest of Europe which made Australia a truly cosmopolitan European settlement.

Oh, i knew that british prisoner were sent en masse to australia. I didnt know that there were called POMs or pommies.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Oh, i knew that british prisoner were sent en masse to australia. I didnt know that there were called POMs or pommies.

Funny thing is, not all those who were sent were criminals. Many destitutes were given option to start their life afresh in the new land of Australia. There were mamy educated menfolks among the immigrants sent to ensure British could inhabit the island and multiply their ilk so that the British could lay claim to all of Australia and New Zealand for themselves while it was still a terra nullius.
French were the other contenders.