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‘Stronger wings’: China’s Z-20T assault helicopter thrills in rare military show demo

Black Hawk rival showcases advanced combat capabilities, cutting-edge weaponry at Tianjin arms exhibition

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PLA helicopters in action during the opening ceremony of an annual exposition in Tianjin on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua
Alcott Weiin Beijing

In a rare public display, China has showcased the advanced capabilities of the cutting-edge Z-20T assault helicopter at a military exhibition in Tianjin this week, demonstrating precision manoeuvres by the all-weather aircraft.

The helicopters performed a hover salute, a backward ascent and a vertical climb and also fired jamming flares at the 7th China Helicopter Exposition, which wraps up on Sunday.

The last time the Z-20T was seen in public was on September 3, when seven of the aircraft flew over Tiananmen Square during Beijing’s Victory Day parade.
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This model is an army-specific version of the Z-20 helicopter and is designed for air assault, fire support and special operations. It also has airlift transport capabilities, according to its designers at the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, who spoke with the official Science and Technology Daily.

A PLA aerobatic team fires flares during a military air show in Tianjin on Thursday. Photo: EPA
A PLA aerobatic team fires flares during a military air show in Tianjin on Thursday. Photo: EPA

The People’s Liberation Army – one of the organisers of the event – primarily showcased the land force’s aviation assault weapons, including helicopters, drones and airborne weapons.

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