China’s advanced Z-20 helicopter model spotted on coastguard ship in ‘second navy’ boost

A model of China’s advanced Z-20 helicopter has been spotted on a coastguard frigate – suggesting the multirole aircraft could be ready to join the paramilitary force.

Photos circulating on Chinese social media platform Weibo over the past week showed a model of the 10-tonne helicopter sitting on the flight deck of a docked Type 054 China Coast Guard (CCG) frigate.

Cranes in the dockyard bore the acronym for Guangzhou-based Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company, a subsidiary of state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

The Z-20 medium-lift helicopter, seen as the Chinese answer to America’s Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, has a longer range and higher capacity than the smaller Z-9 that is usually deployed on coastguard frigates.

China debuted the ship-borne version of the Z-20 at the Zhuhai Airshow last month. This version will be incorporated into the navy. The first Z-20, developed by Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, entered service in 2018.

Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former People’s Liberation Army (PLA) instructor, said the flight deck of China’s existing Type 054 CCG frigates could not accommodate Z-20 helicopters.

But the newer-generation Type 054B frigate featured a larger flight deck and hangar that could host the Z-20, he said, adding that Type 054B frigates, also known as the Type 054AG, would “possibly be soon in service” with the coastguard.