Ready for Takeoff China’s Advancing Aerospace Industry(42)

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To date, Eurocopter’s joint projects with HAIG include:
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Licensed production of the AS365N Dauphin II as the Z-9. The initial 1980 agreement provided for 48 sets of AS365N kits to be assembled in Harbin, and in 1993, a follow-on contract for 22 additional sets was signed. In 1992, the Z-9B, an “indigenized” variant with 71.9 percent Chinese-made content, made its first flight. It is believed that the PLA subsequently took delivery of more than 150 Z-9Bs and its follow-on variants. Over time, the Z-9 became the most produced helicopter series in China, with over 200 units delivered to military and civilian customers so far. HAIG has also developed several improved variants of the Z-9, the latest of which is the H450, with an enhanced payload. The PLA is said to be interested in adopting this variant to replace its older Z-9s if the program is successful (“Zhi-9 Utility Helicop-ter,” 2009).

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Joint development and co-production of the EC-120/HC-120 in a three-way partnership between Eurocopter, HAIG, and Sin-gapore Technologies Aerospace, Ltd. (STAero), contracted since 1993. The EC120 is a single-engine light helicopter with a maxi-mum takeoff weight of approximately 1,700 kg. Its design is con-sidered highly advanced, with extensive use of composite materi-als and a new-generation shrouded tail rotor. At the time of the

project’s launch, it was the first Chinese risk-sharing partnership in a helicopter program (“HC-120 Helicopter”). 
Initially HAIG, which has a 24-percent stake in the pro-gram, produced the fuselage and fuel system for the machine, while Eurocopter (61 percent) was responsible for overall techno-logical leadership and final assembly. In 2004, a second assembly line with the capacity to produce 20 aircraft per year was opened in Harbin, although HAIG continues to supply the fuselages on all EC120s produced. To date, more than 600 EC120s have been delivered to customers around the world (Zhao and Ma, 2009,
p. 65). One operator is U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which has 15 of these aircraft.
.  Joint development of the EC175/Z-15 7-ton-class medium utility helicopter, contracted in 2006. The project is a 50-50 joint ven-ture between Eurocopter and HAIG, with Eurocopter serving as the technical lead and systems integrator. Eurocopter has respon-sibility for the EC175’s main gearbox, tail rotor, avionics, doors, and transparencies, while HAIG is responsible for the airframe, tail and intermediate gearboxes, main rotor, fuel system, flight controls, and landing gears (Zhao and Ma, 2009, p. 65). The first prototype made its first flight in December 2009 (Dubois, 2010).
While all versions of the aircraft were originally expected to be powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67E turbo-shafts, in early 2010, French engine-maker Turbomeca confirmed that it will collaborate with AVIC to develop a new turboshaft based on the Turbomeca Ardiden engine for the Chinese Z-15. AVIC will develop the compressor and the engine installation in Harbin, and Turbomeca will develop the hot section and controls. The new engine, identified as the WZ60, is said to offer 15 per-cent better fuel economy. But perhaps even more important for the Chinese, a Chinese engine would avoid potential U.S. embar-goes on the Pratt & Whitney engine once the Z-15 enters Chinese military service (Morris, 2010).
　
中国航空网 www.aero.cn
航空翻译 www.aviation.cn
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