Group : Utility & Transport Helicopters
Status : Active
Also Known As : SA 321F, SA 321G, SA 321GA, SA 321GM, SA 321H, SA 321J, SA 321JA, SA 321K, SA 321L, SA 321M, Z-8, Z-8A, Z-8AEW, Z-8C, Z-8F, Z-8JH, Z-8K, Z-8KA, Z-8S
Origin : France
Contractors : Airbus Helicopters, Harbin Aviation Industry
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1966
First Flight : December 7, 1962
Total Production : 150

The Aerospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon was a heavyweight transport helicopter intended for both military and civilian customers and derived from Sikorsky's SE3200 Frelon helicopter design. This 13-ton helicopter is provided with a six-blade main rotor and five-blade tail rotor and is powered by three Turbomeca Turmo IIIC turboshaft engines developing 1,570-hp each and a cruise speed of roughly 250 kph. The military Super Frelon aircraft includes three variants: transport, anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). The military variant may include a 20mm cannon, a maritime surveillance radar, two Exocet anti-ship missiles and four A244S torpedoes. The maiden flight of the Super Frelon helicopter was carried out on December 7, 1962 and entered service with the French Armed Forces in 1966. The aircraft was sold to several countries worldwide including the People's Republic of China. China has produced locally the Super Frelon manufactured by Harbin under the Z-8 designation and powered by WZ-6 engines.

The SA 321G is an ASW variant ordered by the French Navy and equipped with maritime surveillance radar. The SA 321GA was an utility transport version for the French Navy. The SA 321GM was an export version ordered by Libya and fitted with radar. The SA 321H was the export version ordered by Iraq and also fitted with radar and Exocet anti-ship missiles. The SA 321F was a commercial variant for 37 passengers and the SA 321J and SA 321JA for 27 passengers. The SA 321K was a military transport version ordered by Israel. The SA 321L was a transport version ordered by South Africa. SA 321M was a search and rescue version ordered by Libya. The Chinese Z-8, Z-8A and Z-8F are transport versions powered by WZ-6 and PT6B-67A (Z-8F only) engines. The Z-8AEW is a special version fitted with an air surveillance radar for airborne early warning (AEW). The Z-8S and Z-8JH as well as the Z-8K and Z-8KA are search and rescue variants.

Group : Civil Helicopters
Status : Active
Also Known As : AC-313, Changhe Z-8F-100
Origin : China
Contractors : AVICOPTER, Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation CAIC
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : December 5, 2013
First Flight : March 18, 2010
Total Production : 32

The Avicopter AC313, also known as Changhe Z-8F-100, is a civilian derivative of the Z-8/Super Frelon military heavyweight transport helicopter designed to carry up to 27 passengers over ranges of 900 kilometers. It is powered by three Pratt & Whitney PT6B-67A turboshaft engines allowing a top speed of 336 kph and a ceiling of 4,500 meters. The airframe and rotor blades feature a 50 percent of composite materials and titanium (main rotor). Besides, the cockpit features electronic flight control systems. The AC313 can carry a 4-ton payload internally or five additional tons externally using a sling. The heavyweight AC313 helicopter conducted its maiden flight on March 18, 2010 and entered revenue service on December 5, 2013. The AC313 is intended to serve both Chinese and foreign operators with 32 aircraft already ordered as of January 2015.

Group : ASW Helicopters
Status : Active
Origin : China
Contractors : AVICOPTER, Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation CAIC
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : January 2018
First Flight : 2014
Total Production : ?

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Z-18 is a medium-weight helicopter derived from the state-of-the-art AC-313 VIP transport helicopter and developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) and Avicopter. It is powered by three WZ-6 turboshaft engines and the airframe is made of composite materials and titanium. The Z-18 rotorcraft maximum takeoff weight is 13.8 tons and features integrated avionics as well as the non-retractable landing gear from the Super Frelon helicopter family. The Z-18F is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter first revealed on the flight deck of the PLA Navy (PLAN) Liaoning aircraft carrier in 2013-2014. The Z-18F helicopter is equipped with surface search radar, dipping sonar, hardpoints intended for torpedoes and/or anti-ship missiles, and sonobuoys.

Group : Utility & Transport Helicopters
Status : Active
Also Known As : Z-8G, Z-8L
Origin : China
Contractors : AVICOPTER, Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation CAIC
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : January 2018
First Flight : December 2014
Total Production : ?

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Z-18 is a medium-weight helicopter derived from the state-of-the-art AC-313 VIP transport helicopter and developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) and Avicopter. It is powered by three WZ-6 turboshaft engines and the airframe is made of composite materials and titanium. The Z-18 rotorcraft maximum takeoff weight is 13.8 tons and features integrated avionics as well as the non-retractable landing gear from the Super Frelon helicopter family. The Z-18A is a military transport variant fitted with terrain avoidance radar and an electro-optical turret. It is intended to carry troops and material on behalf of the PLA as well as to conduct search and rescue missions flying at low altitude. The Z-18A can airlift the 4-ton AH-4 155mm lightweight towed howitzer. The PLA started testing the Z-18A helicopter in December 2014 as the replacement for the Z-8A aircraft.

Group : Maritime Helicopters
Status : Active
Origin : China
Contractors : AVICOPTER, Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation CAIC
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2019
First Flight : 2015
Total Production : ?

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Z-18 is a medium-weight helicopter derived from the state-of-the-art AC-313 VIP transport helicopter and developed by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC) and Avicopter. It is powered by three WZ-6 turboshaft engines and the airframe is made of composite materials and titanium. The Z-18 rotorcraft maximum takeoff weight is 13.8 tons and features integrated avionics as well as the non-retractable landing gear from the Super Frelon helicopter family. The Z-18J is an airborne early warning (AEW) variant equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to detect and track airborne and surface targets.