Helicopters designed for multiple operational purposes are displayed in the static exhibition area at the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and the Changchun Air Show, which was opened on Friday in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province.
Three of the four types of helicopters on display took part in China's grand military parade on September 3.
Each type of helicopters has unique functions and advantages in the operational system, according to Wei Dongxu, a military analyst.
"The closest one to us is the Z-20KA helicopter, a medium-sized utility helicopter of the Air Force. The Z-20 helicopter in equipment system of the Air Force plays a relatively unique role: Firstly, it can deploy assault forces or special forces, and it also has a very critical function, such as pilots rescue. If a fighter jet is shot down by enemy and the pilot ejects and parachutes into a relevant area, then Z-20KA is a very suitable equipment for rescue operations. It can fly fast at low altitudes and provide a certain degree of firepower suppression," said the analyst.
As an armed helicopter, Z-10k owns advanced fire control system and multiple weapons.
"What we see now is the Z-10K. Its appearance is highly distinctive, featuring a tandem two-seat cockpit for two pilots. One pilot operates the helicopter, while the other operates the airborne weapon system. They can use the cannon located at the lower front to strike ground targets. Moreover, the rotation of cannon can be integrated with the helmet of the pilot, allowing pilot to guide the cannon to strike wherever the pilot looks. On both sides of the wings, we can see that rocket launch pods, anti-tank missiles, and air-to-air missiles can be mounted. The light blue small missile on the outermost part of the wing is actually an air-to-air missile specifically developed for helicopters," the analyst said.
The upgraded Z-9WA armed helicopter has enhanced reconnaissance and fire support capabilities, reflecting the diversified development of helicopter functions of PLA Air Force.
"The Z-9WA is upgraded and modified based on the Z-9 helicopter, placing greater emphasis on reconnaissance and fire support capabilities. The front part of the fuselage has been modified, equipped with a radar dome and electro-optical probes. The structure of the weapon pylons on both sides is relatively simple, but they can also mount anti-tank missiles, and cannon pods. This time, the Z-9WA should be equipped with a heavy machine gun or a small-caliber aircraft cannon, reflecting further pursuit of diversification in helicopter functions of PLA Air Force," said Wei Dongxu.
The Z-8KA helicopter integrates troop and equipment deployment capabilities with all-weather operational effectiveness.
"Yes, this is the Z-8KA, a relatively large helicopter. Its main function is still transport, because the biggest advantage of this type is the design of a ramp at the rear cabin. When the ramp is lowered, it not only facilitates rapid personnel entry and exit but also allows small equipment, such as all-terrain vehicle 'Shanmao' (Leopard Cat), to directly enter the cargo bay. This way, we can achieve not only the deployment of assault forces but also serve as a ground mobile combat platform," said the military analyst.
"The current Z-8 helicopter has also been modified with numerous optical infrared sensors underneath, allowing effective identification of ground targets whether during the day or at night. Moreover, we can see a loudspeaker-like audio device near its tail landing gear, so it cannot be ruled out that it can also conduct hailing operations, broadcast on the battlefield, and transmit information, possessing such soft-kill jamming capabilities," he added.
Hosted by the PLA Air Force, the aviation open-day activities run from September 19 to 23, with the air show taking center stage.
Helicopters for diverse needs showcased at Changchun Air Show
China has been accelerating its pace of green development in recent years under the visions laid out by Chinese President Xi Jinping, with residents across the country hailing the positive impact of the changes which have already taken place and are being seen in everyday life.
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, China has set its sights on achieving a comprehensive green transition, and is making concerted efforts to advance this agenda. Green development is also among the key objectives of the country's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), a key blueprint mapping out the main development priorities for the coming years ahead.
The green foundation of high-quality development is becoming increasingly distinct while forming a new vision of the "Beautiful China" initiative, where humanity and nature coexist in harmony. It comes as part of wider efforts to modernize the country's ecological environment through a comprehensive transition to green production, promoting low-carbon lifestyles, and undertaking large-scale nature restoration. In Rui'an City of east China's Zhejiang Province, the once heavily-polluted Wenruitang River has been transformed into a beautiful waterway weaving through the city, which will serve as a stage for boat races during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival period and remains a popular leisure spot for local residents year round.
"We used to avoid walking along the riverbank, but now it is lush with greenery and the water is crystal clear. The best scenery is right outside our front door," said local resident Jin Xiongguang.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, President Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has always stressed the need for ensuring the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and the progress of human civilization as a whole, and established green development as a key component of the new development philosophy.
As China's economy transitions from a phase of high-speed growth to a phase of high-quality development, Xi has put forward a series of strategic proposals on the comprehensive transition to green and low-carbon economic and social development. He emphasized the need to properly balance economic development with ecological and environmental protection, and to firmly establish the concept that protecting the ecological environment is tantamount to protecting productive forces and vice versa.
Xi also personally directed the integration of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality into the overall framework of economic and social development and the construction of an ecological civilization, and called for the establishment of a sound economic system for green, low-carbon, and circular development to drive the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.
Analysts say that this approach has set a key example to the rest of the world of the need to face these challenges head on. "Addressing climate change through a comprehensive green transition and working together to build a clean and beautiful world demonstrates Xi's global vision and sense of responsibility as a major country's leader. It also contributes Chinese wisdom to the sustainable development of human civilization," said Huang Chengliang, head of a research center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, China has accelerated its transition toward a green and low-carbon economy, showing continued improvement in its ecological environment.
Over the past 10 years, the proportion of surface water with a good quality rating surpassed 90 percent for two consecutive years, while water quality in the main stems of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River has remained stable at Class II, the second highest in China's five-tier water quality rating system.
Meanwhile, the last decade has seen the national average PM2.5 concentration fall by 33.3 percent, and the proportion of days with good or excellent air quality has reached 88.1 percent, the highest level since official monitoring began.
In the same period, China has also contributed to a quarter of the world's new green space, with its total forest coverage now exceeding 25 percent.
These positive changes in the ecological environment are inextricably linked to the green transformation of the country's main production methods in recent years.
The development of offshore wind power and photovoltaic bases in China continues to accelerate and the installed capacity of solar power is expected to surpass that of coal-fired power for the first time in 2026.
Work is also ongoing to accelerate the green transformation in the industrial and agricultural sectors. Starting this year, the focus is shifting from "energy consumption control" to the more precise "carbon emissions control."
Construction of 52 national-level zero-carbon industrial parks is being expedited, and green factories and industrial parks are evolving from pilot projects into powerful clusters.
Today, more people up and down the country are increasingly pursuing more green lifestyles on a daily basis.
Fifteen Chinese provinces and municipalities have achieved zero landfill for daily solid waste, and 27 provinces have introduced carbon incentive policies.
The idea that people should all work together to protect the environment by starting with small actions in daily life, such as choosing eco-friendly transportation, conserving electricity and water, finishing meals, reducing the use of single-use items, and recycling and reusing old items has become a social consensus.
"We take the subway when going out, bring a reusable bag when grocery shopping, and turn the air conditioner up by one degree. These small actions all represent changes. As the environment around us improves day by day, our life also becomes more comfortable. This sense of happiness is something we can see and feel," said Wang Yan, a resident of Guangzhou City in south China's Guangdong Province.
China is using carbon peaking and carbon neutrality as a driving force to advance carbon reduction, pollution control, ecological restoration, and economic growth in a coordinated manner. Through tangible achievements in building a beautiful China, the country is striving to write a new chapter in Chinese modernization characterized by harmony between humanity and nature.
China accelerates green development under Xi's guidance
