A Chinese-made military helicopter, known as Z-19E, has taken its maiden flight in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. The new Z-19E is an export version of Chinese attack helicopter Z-19 and developed by Harbin Aircraft Industrial Corporation. The helicopter can provide offensive air support and destroy the armored vehicles of any potential enemy with its “air-to-surface” armament including anti-tank missiles, a 23mm cannon and other weapons. It also has gun pods and can carry air-to-air missiles, and its tandem-seated cockpit is armored. The aircraft can carry out reconnaissance missions as well. Z-19 is built using components of the Harbin Z-9 which is a licence built version of the Eurocopter Dauphin. In contrast with its basic version, the new chopper features modernized systems protecting it from the enemy’s air defense, and it sports new avionics. Furthermore, its maker Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) announced that the Z-19E received a stealth technology that decreases the helicopter’s observability to foes.
