T-625 & Turkish Utility Helicopter Programs

[Zarvan]

More likely complement it. While the S-70 can carry a fully equipped 12-man unit, the T925 will be able to carry a fully equipped 18-man unit. (By the way, T-925 is the code of the project. No name has been given to this vehicle yet.)

At the beginning of the project, this helicopter was planned to be around 9 tons, but now she is 11.5 tons. Probably in the future, its engine will be replaced with a domestically produced TEI TS-3000 engine. They will enter service with Ukrainian engines.

IMO it seems that in the long run we will have only 2 general purpose helicopters (Gökbey and T-925) and the S-70s will be removed from the our inventory as their fuselage lives expire. Both Gökbey and T-925 will be produced as navalized.

We are praying for you. Any new weapon from Turkey increases our options. But hopefully they would fly with Turkish engines.

 

[MMM-E]

T-625 GOKBEY


15,000 feet altitude tests successfully completed

The next goal is to complete the 20,000 feet altitude tests.

 

[MMM-E]

 

[LegionnairE]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1720778520773771325

Gökbey completed a high altitude test flight

 

[merzifonlu]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1720778520773771325

Gökbey completed a high altitude test flight

With which engine? This is main question.

 

[LegionnairE]

With which engine? This is main question.

Probably CTS-800 for now

 

[merzifonlu]

Probably CTS-800 for now

+1 Highly probably. IMO for TS-1400 a bit early.

 

[MMM-E]

T-625 Helicopter reached its maximum service ceiling by flying at an altitude of 20.000 feet

https://twitter.com/x/status/1722253709500174501

 

[hyperman]

Are they doing hot and heavy tests as well for desert environments?

 

[merzifonlu]

Are they doing hot and heavy tests as well for desert environments?

Of course.

All tests will be completed with both the CTS 800 engine and the TS-1400 engine. The current tests are tests of the helicopter airframe and are carried out with the proven CTS 800 engine. Once the airframe proves itself, the same tests will be repeated with the TS-1400. Deliveries of Gökbey helicopters powered by the TS-1400 engine will begin in 2026.

I think that the T-629 attack helicopter, which uses the TS-1400 engine and Gökbey's transmission, will start testing in 2026. IMO these tests will not take long. Because all the subsystems required for the T-629 are now ready. IMO The T-629 will probably enter mass production in 2027.

If Pakistan is still interested in Turkish-made attack helicopters in 2027, I can say that T-629s will be produced only for Pakistan and Azerbaijan in the first place. Because Azerbaijan will definitely be interested.

 

[hyperman]

Of course.

All tests will be completed with both the CTS 800 engine and the TS-1400 engine. The current tests are tests of the helicopter airframe and are carried out with the proven CTS 800 engine. Once the airframe proves itself, the same tests will be repeated with the TS-1400. Deliveries of Gökbey helicopters powered by the TS-1400 engine will begin in 2026.

I think that the T-629 attack helicopter, which uses the TS-1400 engine and Gökbey's transmission, will start testing in 2026. IMO these tests will not take long. Because all the subsystems required for the T-629 are now ready. IMO The T-629 will probably enter mass production in 2027.

If Pakistan is still interested in Turkish-made attack helicopters in 2027, I can say that T-629s will be produced only for Pakistan and Azerbaijan in the first place. Because Azerbaijan will definitely be interested.

Would developing a T-629 from scratch make sense? compared to just sticking the TS-1400 into the T129 airframe?

 

[merzifonlu]

Would developing a T-629 from scratch make sense? compared to just sticking the TS-1400 into the T129 airframe?

Yes, very sense.

Although the T-129 is a good platform, she has insurmountable flaws. First of all, there is no room left in the body of the helicopter to upgrade the avionics. Secondly, the 20 mm automatic cannon looks makeshift.

As the third, the ammunition strip is a bit fragile and sensitive. The automatic cannon will not work as a result of any shrapnel injury in this strip. Additionally, this sensitivity makes loading ammunition difficult.

The body of the T-629 is almost ready. There will be no delay.

 

[hyperman]

Yes, very sense.

Although the T-129 is a good platform, she has insurmountable flaws. First of all, there is no room left in the body of the helicopter to upgrade the avionics. Secondly, the 20 mm automatic cannon looks makeshift.

As the third, the ammunition strip is very delicate and very sensitive. The automatic cannon will not work as a result of any shrapnel injury in this strip. Additionally, this sensitivity makes loading ammunition difficult.

The body of the T-629 is almost ready. There will be no delay.

Will weight be an issue? with the bigger/heavier helicopter than the T129. How does the Turkish engine compare to the LHTEC T800?

 

[LegionnairE]

Will weight be an issue? with the bigger/heavier helicopter than the T129. How does the Turkish engine compare to the LHTEC T800?

Who said it's going to be heavier?

 

[merzifonlu]

Will weight be an issue? with the bigger/heavier helicopter than the T129. How does the Turkish engine compare to the LHTEC T800?

The T-629 will be only 500 kg heavier than the T-129. In return, engine power will increase proportionally. The best features of the T-129, namely agility and the ability to perform missions with high performance in the "High&Hot" environment, will be preserved on the T-629.

Since materials that will not be a problem to import are preferred, the TS-1400 engine is approximately 25-30 kg heavier than the LHTEC CTS 800 engine. However, it can produce 160 SHP more continuous power than the CTS 800 variant used in the T-129.

In the not too distant future, our material technology will reach the level of the materials used in the CTS 800. Then the TS-1400 engine also goes on a diet and is lightened by 25-30 kg.