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.