China’s Z-18F Anti-Submarine Chopper To Operate Aboard Liaoning Aircraft Carrier

China’s Z-18F anti-submarine medium helicopter is ready to operate aboard the PLA Navy's first aircraft carrier, Liaoning.

The Z-18 medium transport helicopter developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) is designed based on the French Aerospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon.

The single-rotor helicopter is powered by three improved WZ-6 turboshaft engines and has a maximum takeoff weight of 13.8 tons, various media reported today.

CAIC produced two types of Z-18 helicopters for the PLA's naval forces. One is the Z-18J which is used to carry out early warning operations and the other is the Z-18F, which is used for anti-submarine warfare.

Senior Colonel Cao Weidong of the PLA Navy had said last year that the China's first aircraft carrier was capable of carrying a total number of 10 Z-18 helicopters in the future. Among them, four will be Z-18Js and six are going to be Z-18Fs variants.