CAIC Zhi - 10 The Chengdu Zhi - 10 is the Chinese main combat helicopter , he is supposed to be in the some age of the South African Denel AH - 2 Rooivalk and the Mil Mi - 28 Night Hunter . Description . The Zhi - 10 ( Z - 10 ) attack helicopter has been developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Group ( CAIG ) and China Helicopter Research and Development Institute ( CHRDI ) , both based in Jingdezhen , Jiangxi Province . Another PRC helicopter manufacturer , Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Company ( HAMC ) , may have also be involved in the development programme . The Z - 10 is thought to be in the same class as the Agusta A - 129 , South African Rooivalk , and German Tiger . Its primary mission is anti - armour and battlefield interdiction , with a secondary capability for air - to - air combat . The helicopter first flew on 29 April 2003 . A small number of prototypes have been undergoing test and evaluation . The PRC began to develop a dedicated attack helicopter in the mid - 1990s . AVIC II , the parent company of CAIG and CHRDI , has been working with European partners on a common helicopter dynamic system , which can be used on both the proposed medium helicopter and the attack helicopter . However , no foreign firm has been directly involved in the Z - 10 development . The helicopter is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C - 67C turboshaft engines . The PRC will need to obtain the engine production license , or develop an alternative engine before the serial production of the helicopter can begin . Design . Internet source photos revealed that the Z - 10 has a conventional attack helicopter layout , with the pilot and weapons operator seated in tandem , stepped cockpits . The helicopter has a five - blade main rotor and a four - blade tail rotor . Two engines are podded to the helicopter just to the rear of the cockpit . The fuselage has a sloped side to reduce its radar cross section ( RCS ) , and is slender and tapered to the rear , with fixed landing gear . The tail boom tapers to the rear , with a high , swept - back fin with square tip . The flats are unequally tapered with a square tip , while the belly fin has the rear landing wheel attached . The tail rotor is mounted on the right side . The helicopter is thought to be fitted with a ‘ fly - by - wire ‘ ( FBW ) control system , and a modern glass cockpit with multifunctional display ( MFD ) screens . The helicopter crew may also be equipped with a helmet - mounted sight ( HMS ) for head - up display of information and weapon control . Weapons . The helicopter is fitted with a cannon ( 23mm ? ) mounted under the nose . Two stub wings provide four hard points for external ordonance . A new - generation anti - tank guided missile ( ATGM ) HJ - 10 is currently in development . The missile is believed to be comparable to the U . S . AGM - 114 Hellfire . The helicopter can carry up to eight missiles under the stub wings for anti - armour role . Alternatively , the helicopter can carry unguided rocket pods for ground attack , or TY - 90 short - range air - to - air missiles for air combat . Electronic Equipments . An observation unit consisting of a forward looking infrared ( FLIR ) and a low - light television is mounted on a steerable platform at the nose of the helicopter . The electronic countermeasures ( ECM ) suite consists of radar warning receiver ( RWR ) , laser warning receiver , infrared jammer and chaff / flare decoy dispenser . Engines . The Z - 10 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C - 67C turboshaft engines with Full Authority Digital Engine Control ( FADEC ) . The engines have a maximum continuous power of 1 , 531 hp ( 1 , 142 kW ) each .