Helo News game related.

[MarkSheppard]

China last year unveiled their Z-8L Heavy Lift Helo.

Recently, Chinese State Media showed a lineup of Z-8Ls waiting for take off:



Currently, we have the Z-8A (Unit 128) in the game.

Differences between the Z-8A and the Z-8L are:

The L model is wider so it can accommodate a Bobcat ATV (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0pdb4RRpNo)

The A model is a 13 ton class helicopter, while the L model is 15 ton class.

L has better countermeasures such as RWRs and IR decoys.

[MarkSheppard]

The Chinese introduced the Z-20 into service in October 2019.



The Z-20 is basically a Chineseized advanced version of the S-70C-2 Blackhawks (Unit 122) that China acquired in 1984 before Tiannamen.

It's not a straight Blackhawk clone though.

It has a 5 bladed rotor (Blackhawk has 4-bladed rotor), more powerful engines (2400 SHP vs 2000 shp on Blackhawk), and various improved technologies allowing it to work above 13,200 ft.

Recently, Z-20s have been seen with external weapons pylons, similar to the Blackhawk.

[WilliamB]

Key.Aero is reporting that the first of 12 AH-1Zs ordered by the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2019 has been completed. It will be shipped to Bahrain sometime next year, but no exact date yet. Am I correct in assuming this goes in the Gulf States OB file?

[DRG]

Originally Posted by WilliamB

Key.Aero is reporting that the first of 12 AH-1Zs ordered by the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2019 has been completed. It will be shipped to Bahrain sometime next year, but no exact date yet. Am I correct in assuming this goes in the Gulf States OB file?

Yes. Thanks

[blazejos]

Poland has also Blackhawks 4x S-70i already but only in Special forces since 20/12/2019 so in reality January 2020 will be correct. And now have buy 4 more in 2021 also for special forces
https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/black-hawk

https://radar.rp.pl/smiglowce-dla-sp...ly-black-hawki



As you can see this 8x helicopters are armed with guns in doors from both sides

There are also 3x S-70i unarmed Blackhawk's in Police in dark blue colour
since November 2018
https://twitter.com/MSWiA_GOV_PL/sta...licji%2F257107

[Pibwl]

Originally Posted by blazejos

Poland has also Blackhawks 4x S-70i already but only in Special forces since 20/12/2019 so in reality January 2020 will be correct.

Rare and not typical - if it is added, it should be separated from ordinary army helicopters (say, 221 Light Attack Helicopter class)

[Pibwl]

Could be - but human players also should know, that it is not an ordinary workhorse of Polish air cavalry, more luring, than W-3 Sokół...

And now for something completely different:
Japan

363, 364, 951 OH-64DJP Apache - according to Polish monographic article ("Nowa Technika Wojskowa" 6/2018), the first was given to military tests in 3/06, and several were used in military exercises from in 8/07, but first helicopters were delivered to regular combat unit only in 3/10 and achieved readiness by 12/10 [now 1/06].
Very rare machine - only 13 made (11 in Japan, throughout 2007-14).

AH-64DJP was Boeing's designation, but Japanese forces call it just "AH-64D" (not OH). The same says Japanese Wikipedia, according to the translator https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/AH-64D...83%9C%E3%82%A6

Same for 359, 362, 366 OH-1S Cobra - https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/AH-1_%...83%96%E3%83%A9 says AH-1S.

Same for 360, 950 OH-1N - https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/UH-1_(...9%BA%E6%A9%9F) says UH-1 in Japanese context, however there are only UH-1B, H and J used. Japan isn't mentioned as UH-1N Twin Huey user here https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/UH-1N_...83%BC%E3%82%A4

OH-1 is a different Japanese helicopter (unit 343)

[Mobhack]

Rare and not typical - if it is added, it should be separated from ordinary army helicopters (say, 221 Light Attack Helicopter class)

Or an X3 radio code would do as a "not for the AI" item.

[Mobhack]

Could be - but human players also should know, that it is not an ordinary workhorse of Polish air cavalry, more luring, than W-3 Sokół..

Then put some text to that effect in the unit description text as well as giving it an x3 code?.

[Pibwl]

Originally Posted by Mobhack

Then put some text to that effect in the unit description text as well as giving it an x3 code?.

As you like. Maybe you'd want me to write encyclopedia descriptions for Polish units then?..