Pakistan inducts first Chinese-built Z-10ME attack helicopters

Pakistan has officially brought the Chinese-built Z-10ME attack helicopter into service, marking a significant boost to the country’s combat aviation capabilities. 

The announcement was made by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of the Pakistan military, which confirmed that the helicopters have been inducted into the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps.
While ISPR did not disclose the exact number of units received, multiple defence sources indicate that Pakistan could eventually acquire up to 40 of these advanced rotorcraft. Islamabad is the first foreign customer for the Z-10ME, a milestone that follows the collapse of a planned purchase of Turkish-made T129 Atak helicopters due to US export restrictions on the engines.
The 6-tonne Z-10ME will operate alongside Pakistan’s aging US-made AH-1F Cobra fleet and a small number of Russian-built Mi-35 gunships, replacing older platforms and introducing new capabilities.
According to ISPR, “The induction of this potent system marks a major leap in the modernization of army aviation, reinforcing its integrated battlefield response and its ability to deliver decisive effects against potential adversaries.” The statement emphasized the helicopter’s capacity for precision strikes in all weather conditions, day or night, aided by advanced radar technology, electronic warfare suites, and high-end targeting systems.
The Z-10ME, built by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), is an upgraded variant of the Z-10 used by China’s own forces. Key enhancements include more powerful 1,200 kW WZ9G turboshaft engines, improved armour protection, and upgraded countermeasure systems. The helicopter is armed with a chin-mounted 23mm cannon, guided anti-tank missiles, and rocket pods, while also featuring a millimetre-wave fire-control radar, radar warning receivers, and a missile approach warning system.
First showcased at Airshow China 2018, the Z-10ME made its global debut at the Singapore Airshow in 2024, where the model on display was fitted with detachable armour panels, countermeasure dispensers, and a nose-mounted electro-optical targeting pod. The Pakistani variants adopt the same matte black paint scheme as their Chinese counterparts, hinting at close operational alignment between the two militaries.
Defence analysts say the induction reflects Islamabad’s growing reliance on Chinese defence technology as Western arms sales face political and regulatory hurdles. With the Z-10ME now in its arsenal, Pakistan aims to strengthen its close air support, anti-armour, and battlefield interdiction roles, particularly along its eastern and western frontiers.