Pakistan Reportedly Set to Acquire 30 Chinese Z-10ME Attack Helicopters in Major Defence Deal

Beijing: According to Raaz News | Pakistan is reportedly moving to expand its attack-helicopter fleet with the acquisition of 30 Chinese-made Z-10ME helicopters, a potential deal that would deepen Islamabad’s reliance on Chinese military equipment and further strengthen Beijing’s position as its leading defence supplier.

Details of the reported agreement emerged after an image of a contract document circulated on Chinese social media. The image was shared on Sunday by military blogger Sashoujian, who said China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) had signed an export agreement with Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence Production on July 11 for 30 Z-10ME helicopters, together with associated equipment and services.

The year in which the agreement was signed was not specified. Neither Beijing nor Islamabad has officially confirmed the reported order, its value or the delivery schedule. If accurate, however, the reported figure would provide a clearer indication of the scale of Pakistan’s acquisition since the helicopters were formally inducted into Army Aviation in August last year.

The blogger described the agreement as a breakthrough in Chinese defence exports, claiming it marked the first time a domestically developed main attack helicopter had been exported as a complete system.

Pakistan had reportedly considered acquiring up to 40 helicopters from the Z-10 family as early as 2022. Their induction has been described by the Pakistani military as an important step towards modernising Army Aviation.

China Fills the Gap Left by Western Suppliers

The reported Z-10ME acquisition highlights Pakistan’s difficulties in diversifying its military procurement sources. Islamabad’s earlier efforts to acquire the American AH-1Z Viper and Turkish T129 ATAK attack helicopters did not materialise amid export restrictions and licensing complications, leaving China as a key alternative supplier.

The Chinese helicopters are expected to join an Army Aviation fleet largely built around ageing American AH-1F Cobra helicopters, which have served Pakistan for nearly four decades, alongside a limited number of Russian Mi-35 Hind assault helicopters.

The Z-10ME could provide Pakistan with an opportunity to replace older aircraft while reducing its exposure to the political and regulatory uncertainties associated with Western arms supplies.

The reported purchase would also add to China’s expanding role in Pakistan’s military modernisation. Beijing already supplies Islamabad with combat aircraft, air-defence systems, drones and other military platforms. The J-10CE fighter, alongside the jointly developed JF-17 programme, has strengthened China’s presence in Pakistan’s combat aviation. The Z-10ME would extend that cooperation into the attack-helicopter sector.

Z-10ME Designed for Challenging Terrain

The Z-10ME is an export-oriented, upgraded variant of the Z-10 attack helicopter operated by China’s People’s Liberation Army. The aircraft has featured in Chinese military exercises near the Indian border and in the Taiwan Strait, reflecting its role in Beijing’s evolving military capabilities.

Chinese state media have previously highlighted the helicopter’s operations in the high-altitude Tibetan region, including at elevations approaching 6,000 metres. Such capabilities could be relevant to Pakistan’s operational requirements along its mountainous borders.

The export variant reportedly incorporates upgraded WZ-9C turboshaft engines, enhanced electronic warfare systems and other improvements intended to strengthen its operational performance and survivability.

First unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2018, the Z-10ME made its international airshow debut in Singapore in 2024. It was subsequently showcased at the Marrakech Air Show in Morocco in early October, alongside China’s J-10CE fighter, Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, Z-20 utility helicopter and Wing Loong drone family, according to an AVIC social media post dated October 10.

Strategic Implications for Islamabad and Beijing

For Pakistan, the reported acquisition could offer a route to modernising Army Aviation while limiting dependence on Western export approvals. For China, it would represent another expansion of a defence partnership in which equipment procurement, operational interoperability and long-term military support are increasingly interconnected.

The implications extend beyond the helicopter fleet. As Pakistan incorporates more Chinese-made platforms across its armed forces, Beijing’s role in shaping Islamabad’s military modernisation is becoming increasingly significant.

If confirmed at the reported scale, the Z-10ME agreement would mark another major development in Pakistan-China defence cooperation, extending their partnership further into the field of attack aviation.

However, until either government officially confirms the reported agreement, its size, value and delivery arrangements remain unverified.