Cambodia to Buy 12 Harbin Z-9 Helicopters From China

Cambodia will buy 12 Chinese Z-9 light utility helicopters using part of a $195 million loan, granted in late 2012 by China, as part of an effort to re-equip its armed forces according to Tea Banh, the Cambodian Defense minister. The aircraft are to be mainly used in humanitarian missions.

The Z-9 helicopter is a modified version of the licensed French Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, manufactured by the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation.

The helicopter has previously been exported to a number of other countries, including Mali, which has recently been involved in an armed struggle in the northern part of the country.

Previous military aid to Cambodia by China includes the delivery of 250 vehicles, including jeeps, trucks and ambulances, free of charge to the Cambodian army in 2010.

Specifications Harbin Z-9

Crew: 1
Capacity: 9 passengers, 1900 kg payload internal, 1600 kg payload slung
Length: 11.44 m
Height: 4.01 m
Empty weight: 2050 kg
Max takeoff weight: 4100 kg
Maximum speed: 305 km/h
Cruising speed: 260 km/h
Ferry range: 1000 km with internal tank
Endurance: 5 hours
Service ceiling: 4500 m
Powerplant: 2 Zhuzhou Aeroengine Factory WZ-8A turboshaft, 848 hp each


http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/130123/cambodia-agrees-deal-buy-army-choppers-china

By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Wood [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By US Army (FM44-80 manual of the US army) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons