Chinese Helicopter Industry

Today, I saw a really good interview the chief designer in the Z-15 from the Chinese side (who is also the deputy chief designer of 602 Institute. These are some of the interesting points that Mr. Yang made:

* China is developing helicopters in 1.5 t to 15 tonne range like US and Europe is doing rather as opposed to Russian portfolio which includes much heavier models. It seems to follow a general trend in the development of Chinese maufacturing industry where they are generally trying to follow the path of West. Most of China's recent indigenous efforts (not licensed/unlicensed production like flankers/Mig-21s) are actually showing more Western influences.
* EC-175/Z-15 received 111 orders in its first airshow appearance and orders from 10+ customers since. Chinese companies have also placed orders for 10+ Z-15s.
* Obviously, China feels that its self-produced helicopters like Z-9/11 are generation(s) behind Z-15. Z-9/11 only have a lifespan of 6000 hours compared to 20,000 hours for a modern western helicopter. This project is not only important for improving technologically, but also improving after-sales servicing and support.
* They are also proceeding with their 10+ tonne helicopter project independently and may launch the project in 1 or 2 years. It may be in conflict with Z-8, but that's ancient technology.
* Chinese helicopter market has a huge upside. At the current time, there are only several hundreds military helicopters + article, what China really seeks is learning the process of developing a successful product. They went from a minor partner in the EC-120 project to become an equal partner in EC-175. By the next step, they probably would like to develop a new helicopter (like the 10 tonne helicopter) independently. That helicopter would most likely not be cutting edge in the civilian market like EC-175 will be, but it will be developed through this Western design model. The same thing has already happened in the automaker and shipbuilding industry and probably will happen in the airliner industry. American gov't spends a lot of time trying to stop China from having access to sensitive military/dual use technology. It's true that such technology are helpful to the Chinese military buildup, but what China really has copied from the West is its design and management practice (although it still has a long way to go). It gets upset about Canada exporting a few PW engines for the prototype part of Z-10 project, but nothing seems to happen with Sikorsky after S-300 and S-92 deals. Not that I think it's Sikorsky's fault. In a market where Eurocopter and Agusta are more than willing to cooperate and/or give China license production, Sikorsky has little choice to do the same. And at the end of the day, China can always go to the Russians/Ukrainians for engines, if Western engines are denied for its military projects. And with Russian expertise in heavy lift helicopters and Western cooperation in 1.5 to 13 tonne helicopters, China is developing a helicopter industry through a whole range of weight classes for military and civilian use.