26 March 2024 – With a sturdy 10-tonne capacity, China’s Z-20 assault helicopter is a new heavyweight in its aerial arsenal that can perform even better than its predecessors, the Z-10 and Z-19. The Z-20, designed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation, is a major step toward China’s military modernization. Military experts say the strategic inclusion of the Z-20—now known as the Z-21 for its assault configuration—as a critical component in future confrontations involving Taiwan or India, according to a South China Morning Post story.
According to Yoon Suk-joon of the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, the Z-20 series can operate in tandem with US military helicopters, which is essential for operations in India’s bordering mountainous areas. The Z-20 series is specially designed for high-altitude performance. According to the SCMP article, the strategic deployment of these helicopters might have serious “threatening implications for Taiwan and India,” particularly when seen through the lens of the Western Theatre Command.
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China needs a more powerful attack helicopter for cross-strait operations against Taiwan and high-altitude combat along the Line of Actual Control with India, according to Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.