Hafei Aviation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedChinese aerospace manufacturer producing light aircraft, helicopters, and aviation components.
Last updated October 12, 2026
Overview
Hafei Aviation Industry Co., Ltd., commonly known as Hafei Aviation, is a Chinese aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Harbin, Heilongjiang. Its business covers the research, development, manufacture, and sale of light aircraft, helicopters, general-aviation aircraft, and aerospace components. The company also has a presence in Beijing. Hafei is associated with China’s state-owned aviation-industrial system and is identified in reference material as a publicly traded subsidiary of Harbin Aviation Industry (Group) Co., Ltd., within the wider AVIC group. The company’s product and industrial profile spans both complete aircraft and aerostructure work. Its aircraft activities have included light and general-aviation platforms, helicopters, and the Y-12 family of utility and transport aircraft. Hafei is also associated with production of components and structural assemblies for larger aerospace programs. This combination gives the company a role that is broader than that of a single-aircraft brand: it participates in domestic aircraft production while also contributing manufacturing capacity to international aerospace supply chains. Hafei’s helicopter portfolio includes the Z-9 series, a family developed in China from the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin design and used in military, governmental, utility, and other operational contexts. Its fixed-wing activities include the Y-12, a twin-turboprop utility aircraft designed for passenger, cargo, regional, and special-mission use. The company’s activities therefore serve military and government users as well as civil aviation, general aviation, transport, and industrial customers. International cooperation has been part of Hafei’s development. Reference material describes a joint venture involving Harbin Aviation Industry Group and Airbus for the manufacture of composite components for the A320 family and work connected with the A350 XWB program. Hafei has also been linked with cooperation involving Eurocopter and the China Aviation Industry Trading Corporation on assembly of the EC120 helicopter in China. These relationships illustrate the company’s participation in technology transfer, licensed or cooperative aircraft production, and global aerospace-component manufacturing. Hafei Aviation is best positioned as an aerospace original-equipment manufacturer and industrial partner rather than as a consumer-facing aircraft brand. Publicly available reference material confirms its Harbin base, Beijing presence, listed-company identity, aircraft and component activities, and links to major aviation programs. Detailed current information on its management, financial performance, product delivery volumes, and present operating status is not established by the supplied sources.
History
Hafei Aviation developed within Harbin’s aviation-manufacturing base and became associated with the production of light aircraft, helicopters, and aviation components. The company is identified in reference material as having been established in 1952, although the supplied sources do not provide a detailed account of its founding organization, early leadership, or successive corporate reorganizations. Its industrial development followed the broader expansion of China’s aviation sector. Hafei’s role was not limited to a single aircraft type: it developed and manufactured light and general-aviation aircraft, participated in helicopter production, and built components and assemblies for aerospace programs. The Y-12 family became one of the company’s principal fixed-wing products, serving utility, passenger, cargo, regional, and special-mission roles. The company was also associated with the Z-9 helicopter series, giving it an important position in Chinese helicopter manufacturing. Hafei’s later history included increasing participation in international aerospace cooperation. Harbin Aviation Industry Group, the company’s parent group identified in the supplied reference, formed a joint venture with Airbus for composite components for the A320 family and work related to the A350 XWB. Hafei was also connected with cooperation among Eurocopter, the China Aviation Industry Trading Corporation, and Hafei for EC120 helicopter assembly in China. These activities reflected a shift toward participation in international production networks alongside domestic aircraft manufacture. The company became a publicly traded enterprise on the Shanghai Stock Exchange under ticker 600038. It is described as a subsidiary of Harbin Aviation Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. and as part of the wider AVIC aviation-industrial system. Its principal base remains in Harbin, with an additional presence in Beijing. The available reference material does not establish a complete chronology of shareholding changes, management appointments, production volumes, or current aircraft programs. Accordingly, its documented history is best summarized as the evolution of a Harbin-based Chinese aircraft and aerospace-component manufacturer into a listed enterprise participating in both domestic aviation production and international aerostructure partnerships.
- 1952
Aviation manufacturing activity established in Harbin
[1]Reference material gives 1952 as the founding year associated with the enterprise’s aviation-manufacturing history in Harbin.
Hafei becomes a publicly traded company
[1]Hafei Aviation is identified as a Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed company trading under ticker 600038.
Participation in Airbus composite-component programs
[1]Harbin Aviation Industry Group entered cooperation with Airbus involving composite components for the A320 family and work connected with the A350 XWB program.
EC120 helicopter assembly cooperation
[1]Hafei participated in a China-based EC120 assembly cooperation involving Eurocopter and the China Aviation Industry Trading Corporation.
Products and positioning
Chinese aerospace original-equipment manufacturer focused on helicopters, utility and general-aviation aircraft, and aerospace components.
Helicopter
Z-9 series
The Z-9 is a Chinese helicopter family associated with Hafei’s helicopter-manufacturing activities. Derived from the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin design, the series has been used in military, governmental, utility, and other operational roles. It represents Hafei’s principal rotary-wing manufacturing line in the supplied material and illustrates the company’s role in producing complete helicopters rather than only aerospace structures.
Utility and transport aircraft
Y-12
The Y-12 is a twin-turboprop utility aircraft family associated with Hafei Aviation. Its design supports passenger, cargo, regional transport, and special-mission applications, particularly where short-field or flexible operating capability is important. The aircraft is one of Hafei’s best-known fixed-wing products and forms part of the company’s general-aviation and light-aircraft portfolio.
Aerospace components
Aerospace components and composite structures
Hafei manufactures aerospace parts and assemblies in addition to complete aircraft. Its industrial cooperation has included composite components associated with Airbus programs, including the A320 family and work related to the A350 XWB. This component business connects the company’s Harbin manufacturing base with international commercial-aircraft supply chains.
Controversies
Brand decisions
- Participation in Airbus aerospace-component cooperationM&A
Background
The Harbin aviation group sought a role in international commercial-aircraft manufacturing through cooperation with Airbus.
Action taken
The group established a joint venture for composite components used in the A320 family and work associated with the A350 XWB program.
Aftermath
The cooperation expanded the group’s activities beyond complete aircraft and linked its manufacturing capabilities to international aerostructure production.
- EC120 helicopter assembly cooperationProduct launch
Background
International helicopter manufacturers and Chinese aviation organizations pursued local assembly and industrial cooperation in China.
Action taken
Hafei participated with Eurocopter and the China Aviation Industry Trading Corporation in an EC120 assembly line in China.
Aftermath
The project demonstrated Hafei’s involvement in cooperative helicopter production and international aviation-industrial partnerships.
Sources3 sources
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