Attack helicopter made by Turkey, Italy to make first test flight...

[cabatli_53]

ANKARA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A prototype of an attack helicopter with Turkish indigenous equipment and to be co-produced by Turkey and Italy will make its first test flight in the Italian city of Milan on Monday, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported Friday.

The combat and reconnaissance helicopter T-129 ATAK, an enhanced version of the Italian company Agusta Westland's A-129s, is equipped with avionic and weapon systems designed and produced by Turkey, said the report.

The aircraft will be jointly produced by the prime contractor Tusas Aerospace Industries (TAI) of Turkey and the subcontractor Agusta Westland, and TAI will have the right to use and administer the intellectual property of the T-129 ATAK and to sell and market the helicopter worldwide, the report added.

The mission computer and the targeting, navigation, communication and electronic warfare systems of the helicopter will be developed and produced by ASELSAN, a leading defense company in Turkey, according to the report.

The TAI and the Agusta Westland signed an agreement in 2007 on making 51 (plus 40 optional) helicopters for the Turkish Land Forces.

The first T-129 is expected to be delivered to the Turkish Land Forces in 2013, according to the report.

Attack helicopter made by Turkey, Italy to make first test flight_English_Xinhua

 

[insight-out]

This is very good news. I am not knowledgeable about this helicopter. Is it comparable to the Eurocopter Tiger, Viper, Cobra, Apache? How is it priced?

 

[sonicboom]

 

[cabatli_53]

I think The only platform suitable for Turkish high roughy geography was AH-1Z King Cobra Attack helicopter. This desicion has already been registered by official SSM Turkey agreement in Atak-1 tender but You know USA congress did not give us permission to integrate our indigenous systems-equipments on it so ATAK-1 tender cancelled.

This tender is called Atak-2 with 50+41 initial design-development program to built Turkish attack helicopter After AH-1Z fiasco... The helicopters involved in this tender was Eurocopter Tiger-Agusta A-129I-Rooivalk Denel-Russian Mi-28.. After a detail research about the most proper helicopter platform for Turkish requirements, It is understood that Not only Tiger and A-129 cause of less engine power but also Mi-28 and Rooivalk cause of heavy body are not suitable platform for Turkish neccessity so It is also understood that there will be some modifications needed for the helicopters which Turkey is going to select...

At first pharse, Russia and French has been eliminated by SSM. At second phrase the meeting has started with both Denel and Agusta Westland firms. The winner became Agusta Westland offering the much more technology transfer and national contributions... After a detail meetings with Agusta authorities, TAI has owned all rights of T-129 helicopter including new generation development and marketing rights and has been created a design-development team with TAI-Aselsan and Agusta firms to create much suitable platform for Turkey called T-129...

This helicopter is going to manufacture completely Turkish army's requirements to fully benefits against assymetric war threats. That's mean T-129 can be comparable with only AH-1W-Z (Super-King Cobra were also Turkish army's selection in past) in same class helicopters... Not only A-129 but also Tiger can not cope with T-129 If the subject is engine power-service ceiling and effectivenes in high snow mountains...Apache-Rooivalk and Mi-28 are completely different class platforms than T-129 so No need to compare them with T-129...

 

[cabatli_53]

TUSAS-TAI General Manager Mr. Muharrem Dörtkasli: We have good and comprehensive relations in all respects. We have been making efforts to develop joint programs by making visits. Moreover, we will be glad to take part in the prospective programs of PAF to the extent of our facilities and capabilities. Civilian and military delegation visits have significant roles in the improvement of these programs. We have a joint program with Pakistan regarding unmanned air vehicles which was commenced previously. It should also be noted that Pakistan is interested in the ATAK (Attack Helicopter) program carried out under the responsibility of TAI, as the main contractor. Therefore, we are also planning to visit PAF officials to discuss this subject.


Defence Turkey Magazine - all about Turkish Defence Industry, Online Articles

 

[muslim282]

cabatli_53

I understand that certain turkish made parts will be integrated as compared to what was offered. What about the rest of the chopper, will it be a complete technology and manufacturing transfer or will parts have to be imported.

What turkish made parts will be integrated.
Also when will the first one be ready for active service.

I,d love to see 60/70 of these in PA service.

What would also be good is TUSAS working along with the chinese as their could be a vital learning curve for the chinese on the z-10 project from an already proven platform.

Any plans on a military cammo one?

 

[cabatli_53]

cabatli_53

I understand that certain turkish made parts will be integrated as compared to what was offered. What about the rest of the chopper, will it be a complete technology and manufacturing transfer or will parts have to be imported.

What turkish made parts will be integrated.
Also when will the first one be ready for active service.

I,d love to see 60/70 of these in PA service.

What would also be good is TUSAS working along with the chinese as their could be a vital learning curve for the chinese on the z-10 project from an already proven platform.

Any plans on a military cammo one?

First of all, I can say that T-129 is a "Design-Development" prgram of Atak team based on A-129 mainbody. Anyhow, If you check the specification tables of both A-129 and T-129, You will see that T-129 will be more bigger platform than A-129 in length. Due to It uses different Turkish made equipments, There will be lots of design differences and TAI as a main contactor will be responsible for all duties performed by Atak team over T-129.

and Engine will be LHTEC T-8004A USA
Transmission and gears will be Italian techology
All anothers such as electronics, softwawres, certifications, testes, educations, weapons, avionics, simulators, EW, maintance and fuselage production, assembly will be Turkish... That's why The only production institue of T-129 will be Turkish TAI...

Check this source pls...

http://www.defence.pk/forums/land-forces/30064-everything-about-t-129-atak.html


First T-129 called T-129 P5 TUC-1 will be in service around 2013...After First 30 TUC-1 configuration produced, Rests will be TUC-2...

I do not have any information about Chinese-TAI relations...TAI is working with especially S. Korea, USA, Europe such as Frech-Italy to develop-produce technology....

 

[abbasniazi]

Looks like a mix of Super Cobra,apache and Tiger...

 

[cabatli_53]

T-129 TUC-1 P1 Test Flight...

 

[cabatli_53]

The cockpit avionics looks lack of Turkish indigenous equipments cause of being first prototype helicopter...

 

[cabatli_53]

ATAK Team Announce T129 Maiden Flight

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the ATAK Team, comprising Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI), Aselsan and AgustaWestland, has successfully performed the maiden flight of the first T129 prototype. The T129 P1 prototype helicopter’s maiden flight was successfully completed by AgustaWestland and TAI test pilots during an official ceremony held at AgustaWestland facilities in Vergiate, Italy. The ATAK Programme was initiated with the aim to meet the 50 firm and 41 optional Attack/Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter requirement of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLF) by the integration of high-tech avionic equipment, hardware and software which will be developed locally.The programme, in which the Turkish aviation industry is fully involved in the design, development and production phases, is running on time and on budget.

General Manager of TAI, Muharrem Dortkasli said: “It is a great privilege to be here today to witness the first flight of the T129, which will become the most advanced helicopter in its category, so satisfying the requirements of the Land Forces as well as making it very appealing to the international market. An international market in which the Turkish industry will play a primary role. It has been a long journey for us to come to this point. We are proud of the success the ATAK Team has generated, a success which I am sure will be followed by many others.”

Giuseppe Orsi commented “It gives us great pleasure to celebrate today the first flight of the most modern combat helicopter in the world. This event sets a major milestone in our longstanding partnership with Turkish industry and provides clear evidence of how effective this collaboration has been in jointly developing a state-of-the-art all customer-focused solution designed and brought to life in an extraordinary timely manner. Today the Turkish aviation industry enters a new era at the forefront of rotorcraft technology. We are committed to further expanding such a successful cooperation in the future.”

 

[cabatli_53]

T-129 Prototype Loop at First test flight...

[video=metacafe;3462652/t_129_atak/]http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3462652/t_129_atak/[/video]

 

[faisaljaffery]

Nice copter and resembles with American Cobra Helicopters

 

[azfar]

whats is the current status of development after crashing one few months back.

 

[SQ8]

Nice looking bird.. Im hoping to make a scale body of it for my Electric 3d