On 16 November 2025, Pakistan conducted the Raad ul Fatah combined arms firepower exercise at the Tilla Firing Ranges in Jhelum, Punjab. The event featured the newly inducted Chinese Z-10ME-II attack helicopters flying alongside long-serving U.S.-made AH-1F Cobras, demonstrating Pakistan Army Aviation’s mixed-sourcing approach and enhanced deterrence posture.
Joint Operations of Chinese and American Helicopters
The exercise marked the first public use of Z-10ME-II helicopters in an integrated combined-arms scenario. Chinese-made gunships maneuvered and fired alongside U.S. Cobras, supported by multirole fighters, long-range rocket and tube artillery, armored and mechanized formations, and FPV/UCAV drones, showcasing a sophisticated joint strike capability.
Z-10ME-II Technical Capabilities
The Z-10ME-II is an export-oriented medium-weight attack helicopter developed by AVIC and Changhe Aircraft Industries:
- WZ-9C turboshaft engines
- Infrared-suppressing upward-canted exhausts
- Ceramic/graphene armor protection
- Radar and laser warning systems, DIRCM, and short-range missile detection
Its armament includes a 23 mm chin-mounted cannon, six wing hardpoints capable of carrying ATGMs (HJ-10/AKD-10 or CM-502KG), and TY-90 short-range air-to-air missiles. Max takeoff weight is approximately 7.2 tons, speed around 300 km/h, and service ceiling about 6,000 meters.
Integration with AH-1F Cobras
The U.S.-made AH-1F Cobras, operational in Pakistan since the 1980s, remain a capable close support platform. Flying alongside Z-10ME-II helicopters, they demonstrate the successful integration of two distinct systems under a unified command and targeting framework.
Strategic and Regional Implications
Raad ul Fatah highlights Pakistan’s modernization of its attack helicopter fleet while maintaining the operational relevance of legacy platforms. The exercise sends a clear message to regional actors, particularly India, that Pakistan possesses a diversified, high-altitude capable rotary-wing strike capability reinforced by drones, artillery, and combined-arms coordination.
