Z-10 ME/P deliveries Updates: Pakistan Army Aviation.

ghazi52 said:
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Finally this is really great picture of Z-10ME, of course there will be more upgrades and several parts later.
 
KF-10 bears some resemblance to the earlier CM-502KG missile design developed by CASIC. The later was acquired by Pakistani Army in 2025 for its Z-10ME attack helicopter.
- Last Updated 4/30/26
 
ghazi52 said:
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i just think this is an evaluation unit tbh. Id be very surprised if this is a production batch of just 1 unit... either there is a wait for something new from China in terms of upgrades or the PAA wants to thoroughly evaluate these birds and give proper feedback before deciding on a buy in. OTOH, with a thawing of US/PAK relations... maybe we'll see a release of AH-1Z's. PAA has a HUGE rotary wing requirement, which really nobody other than Europe or the US is well placed to meet. For the sake of ease, ill just reference wikipedia, i dont know numbers off the top of my head, just correct/adjust, but the underlying point stands:


55 cobras
45 pumas
30 ish mix types
some of the older MI171's might need to start seeing the scrapyard too.

So lets just say PAA has a 150 helicopter requirement to replace old types alone...

PN also needs choppers!
30 need replacing
then lets assume another 10 to be deployed for asw duties off of ships.

Thats 40 there.


So basically we're talking 200-230 helicopters if we say all mi171's need to go over a time period.

This is a HUGE number @puttputt

IMO, the best bet would be a mix of US EDA Bell AH-1's with a mix of Bell 412EP's. These could possibly be supported or swapped for some UH60's for MEDEVAC etc, but also MH60R's for ASW. Then supported with a mix of AH-1Z's too from new and upgrade/refurb the old EDA units. This is a deal that US representatives would probably even lobby for tbh.
 
Ak01 said:
i just think this is an evaluation unit tbh. Id be very surprised if this is a production batch of just 1 unit... either there is a wait for something new from China in terms of upgrades or the PAA wants to thoroughly evaluate these birds and give proper feedback before deciding on a buy in. OTOH, with a thawing of US/PAK relations... maybe we'll see a release of AH-1Z's. PAA has a HUGE rotary wing requirement, which really nobody other than Europe or the US is well placed to meet. For the sake of ease, ill just reference wikipedia, i dont know numbers off the top of my head, just correct/adjust, but the underlying point stands:


55 cobras
45 pumas
30 ish mix types
some of the older MI171's might need to start seeing the scrapyard too.

So lets just say PAA has a 150 helicopter requirement to replace old types alone...

PN also needs choppers!
30 need replacing
then lets assume another 10 to be deployed for asw duties off of ships.

Thats 40 there.


So basically we're talking 200-230 helicopters if we say all mi171's need to go over a time period.

This is a HUGE number @puttputt

IMO, the best bet would be a mix of US EDA Bell AH-1's with a mix of Bell 412EP's. These could possibly be supported or swapped for some UH60's for MEDEVAC etc, but also MH60R's for ASW. Then supported with a mix of AH-1Z's too from new and upgrade/refurb the old EDA units. This is a deal that US representatives would probably even lobby for tbh.
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A order of 30 units has been placed according SIPRI (not always accurate I know but it seems pretty legit in this case) also replacement in this case doesn't need to be 1 to 1 because the vast difference in capabilities between the AH 1s and Z-10MEs (also 55 is just a Wikipedia number the actual is likely close to half that) I doubt PAA would have done a official induction ceremony if they weren't sure of placing a order

I agree with the bell 412EPs, PA could even pick up tons of second hand civilian helicopters with relatively low use there's a big market out there.

As for the PN I have always maintained that PN should go for a AW139 based ASW platform and do something similar to the Sea sultan program but with helicopters.
 
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Ak01 said:
i just think this is an evaluation unit tbh. Id be very surprised if this is a production batch of just 1 unit... either there is a wait for something new from China in terms of upgrades or the PAA wants to thoroughly evaluate these birds and give proper feedback before deciding on a buy in. OTOH, with a thawing of US/PAK relations... maybe we'll see a release of AH-1Z's. PAA has a HUGE rotary wing requirement, which really nobody other than Europe or the US is well placed to meet. For the sake of ease, ill just reference wikipedia, i dont know numbers off the top of my head, just correct/adjust, but the underlying point stands:


55 cobras
45 pumas
30 ish mix types
some of the older MI171's might need to start seeing the scrapyard too.

So lets just say PAA has a 150 helicopter requirement to replace old types alone...

PN also needs choppers!
30 need replacing
then lets assume another 10 to be deployed for asw duties off of ships.

Thats 40 there.


So basically we're talking 200-230 helicopters if we say all mi171's need to go over a time period.

This is a HUGE number @puttputt

IMO, the best bet would be a mix of US EDA Bell AH-1's with a mix of Bell 412EP's. These could possibly be supported or swapped for some UH60's for MEDEVAC etc, but also MH60R's for ASW. Then supported with a mix of AH-1Z's too from new and upgrade/refurb the old EDA units. This is a deal that US representatives would probably even lobby for tbh.
Click to expand...
If there's anything, absolutely anything, Pakistan must get from the US right now, it's 150 Bell-412EPs. The other stuff might be too costly or too controversial, but 150 412EPs would be a solid get for the transport, utility, SOF, and Army SAR lines.

As for attack helicopters, it might be worthwhile to revise the requirements to something heavier (e.g., Z-21, T929).

Yes, it'd mean fewer numbers, but drones can take up the rest of the coverage layer. Instead, the shift would be to have the manned gunships coordinate or manage the drones., carry SOWs like Rasoob or AZB-81LR, EA/ECM emitters, etc.
 
How many times you need your butts kicked at crunch time to learn some lesson....take your head out of American bottom orifice and smell the fresh air..... America is not giving you anything on your wishlist and even if she's willing to give you , you ain't going to buy it unless it's offered on heavily discounted price.
 
Ali_Baba said:
Still no images of it with the millimeter-wave (MMW) radar in PA service.
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I think this is an evaluation unit or a training unit. Considering there is another new upgrade of the Z-10, PA is most likely waiting on those while it builds maintenance support base and operational training around the current unit in its inventory
 
Ak01 said:
i just think this is an evaluation unit tbh. Id be very surprised if this is a production batch of just 1 unit... either there is a wait for something new from China in terms of upgrades or the PAA wants to thoroughly evaluate these birds and give proper feedback before deciding on a buy in. OTOH, with a thawing of US/PAK relations... maybe we'll see a release of AH-1Z's. PAA has a HUGE rotary wing requirement, which really nobody other than Europe or the US is well placed to meet. For the sake of ease, ill just reference wikipedia, i dont know numbers off the top of my head, just correct/adjust, but the underlying point stands:


55 cobras
45 pumas
30 ish mix types
some of the older MI171's might need to start seeing the scrapyard too.

So lets just say PAA has a 150 helicopter requirement to replace old types alone...

PN also needs choppers!
30 need replacing
then lets assume another 10 to be deployed for asw duties off of ships.

Thats 40 there.


So basically we're talking 200-230 helicopters if we say all mi171's need to go over a time period.

This is a HUGE number @puttputt

IMO, the best bet would be a mix of US EDA Bell AH-1's with a mix of Bell 412EP's. These could possibly be supported or swapped for some UH60's for MEDEVAC etc, but also MH60R's for ASW. Then supported with a mix of AH-1Z's too from new and upgrade/refurb the old EDA units. This is a deal that US representatives would probably even lobby for tbh.
Click to expand...
What about the Turk chopper? Gokbey
Still hobgoblined by US engine like ATaK?
 
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