Changhe WZ-10 PLA attack-helicopter

In mid-1990s, the result of combat in the Gulf War made the China military further realise the importance need for attack helicopters. The repeated failures in obtaining foreign attack helicopters reinforced feelings that China military had no choice but to ignore foreign options and develop its own such aircraft. The 602nd Research Institute proposed a dedicated attack helicopter design, designated WZ-10. In 1998, the China government gave the go-ahead for the WZ-10 into an independent program. Changhe Aircraft Corporation was assigned as the primary contractor of manufacturing. The development of WZ-10 was under strict secrecy. In 2003, a WZ-10 prototype completed its maiden flight. A total of six prototypes and a small number of pre-production aircraft are in service with the PLA for evaluation. The design is undergoing continuous minor modification and upgrade based on the feedback