Pakistan may procure 30 Chinese Z-10ME attack helicopters
The reported acquisition follows Pakistan's efforts to replace its ageing American-built Bell AH-1F Cobra fleet.
Pakistan is reportedly looking to acquire 30 Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopters to modernise its Army Aviation Corps, according to a Times of India report. While an image shared by a military blogger on Chinese social media suggests that China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) signed a contract with Pakistan's defence ministry, neither Beijing nor Islamabad has officially verified the order or the specific quantity.
The Z-10ME is an export variant of the Z-10 produced by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC). It features a millimetre-wave radar, missile approach warning sensors, and a 23mm cannon. Pakistan previously inducted a helicopter at Multan Garrison on August 2, 2025, in a ceremony led by Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, though the exact number of aircraft was not disclosed.
The move comes as India expands its Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand fleet. On March 28, 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed two contracts worth Rs 62,700 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 156 helicopters. These deliveries are expected to begin in the third year of the contract and continue over five years.
India's Prachand is designed for high-altitude operations, with the MoD stating it can take off and land at 5,000 metres. The Prachand has a service ceiling of 6,500 metres, whereas the Z-10ME's specific high-altitude combat capabilities have not been publicly demonstrated with a substantial load. India's attack fleet also includes 28 Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters and Russian-origin Mil Mi-35 helicopters, the latter of which are slated for retirement.
