{
  "id": "z-20",
  "name": "Z-20",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Medium transport helicopter",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 2019,
  "operators": [
    "CHN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 1,
  "summary": "The Z-20 Chinese Medium Transport Helicopter is designed to perform a wide range of missions, including high-mobility air and land operations. This versatile helicopter can also be deployed for search-and-rescue, reconnaissance, maritime operations, and special warfare.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 2,
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "payload_kg",
      "v": 4000,
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 20,
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 5.3,
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 5000,
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Empty weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "2 x WZ-10",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "2,145 hp (1,142 kW) each",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_kmh",
      "v": 360,
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Cruise speed",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "290 km/h",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 4000,
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_km",
      "v": 460,
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Communications",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "UHF/VHF antennas",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Navigation",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "GPS/Beidou receiver",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun System",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Can be armed with machine guns and possibly other weapons, such as anti-tank and air-to-air missiles, or pods with unguided rockets.",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Z-20F",
      "text": "The Z-20F is an anti-submarine warfare variant of the helicopter. It is equipped with foldable rotor blades and has pylons on both sides of the fuselage for carrying torpedoes.",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Z-20S",
      "text": "The Z-20S is a multirole naval variant of the Z-20 medium-lift utility helicopter. While the airframe of the Z-20S resembles that of the baseline Z-20, it features a modified undercarriage arrangement.",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Z-20K/Z-20KS",
      "text": "The Z-20K/Z-20KS is a variant of the Z-20 designed for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). This helicopter serves multiple purposes, including transport, search and rescue, counter-terrorism, disaster relief, VIP escort, and utility roles.",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Z-20T",
      "text": "The Z-20T designation refers to an armed variant of the baseline Z-20 helicopter, also known as the Z-20W. Recent images published in an official report by the PLA Daily, along with a scaled model showcased at the Zhuhai Airshow 2024, indicate that this…",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Z-20J",
      "text": "The Z-20J helicopter, developed by China’s Naval Landing Forces Air Force, made its debut at the 15th Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai City, located in Guangdong Province.",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Z-20KA",
      "text": "An assault model, supports anti-tank missiles and can transport special forces.",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Z-21",
      "text": "The Z-21 helicopter exhibits characteristics typical of modern attack rotorcraft, including a tandem cockpit, stub wings for weapon pylons, and a sensor turret located on the nose. Information about its internal systems is currently limited.",
      "src": [
        "weg-z-20"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "helicopter",
  "image": {
    "file": "z-20.jpg",
    "thumb": "z-20-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Z3144228",
    "license": "CC0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Z-20J_helicopter_20241115.jpg",
    "title": "File:Z-20J helicopter 20241115.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/z-20.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-z-20": {
      "title": "Z-20 Chinese Medium Transport Helicopter",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Z-20_Chinese_Medium_Transport_Helicopter",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}