Less than a month after China released the first public photos of its Z-10 helicopter gunship, US officials are "reviewing" the presence of US- and Canadian-made aviation technology in the new aircraft.
The US has prohibited military exports to China since its violent response in 1989 to pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiannamen Square.
The US Department of State confirmed on 25 October that the probe includes alleged exports by Pratt & Whitney Canada and its parent, United Technologies.
But State officials have declined to elaborate and P&WC and UTC officials were not immediately available to comment.
P&WC's 1,680hp (1,250kW) PT6C-67 turboshaft had been selected as early as 2001 to power the Z-10 medium helicopter, which is reportedly in a similar class as the AgustaWestland A129. It is not clear whether P&WC's participation in the Z-10 programme has been investigated until now.
China's AVIC I has kept the Z-10 programme hidden from public view for several years. But several photos, attributed to Chinese internet sources, appeared in early October at sinodefence.com. The photos revealed a typical, tandem-seat gunship configuration and a five-bladed main rotor.
In 2006, the Global Arms Campaign published a report listing P&WC and US-based Lord as parts and technology suppliers for the Z-10. The report also listed AgustaWestland and Eurocopter as involved in the project.
Source: Flight International