TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK

T129 ATAK
Role Attack helicopter
National origin Italy / Turkey[1]
Manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)[1]
Design group Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)[1] /
AgustaWestland (Leonardo from 2017)[2]
First flight 28 September 2009
Introduction 2014
Status In service
Primary users Turkish Army
Gendarmerie General Command
General Directorate of Security (Turkey)
Philippine Air Force
Produced 2009–present
Number built 78 (+7 prototypes) (December 2022)[3][4]
Developed from Agusta A129 Mangusta

The TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform. It was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)[1] in partnership with Leonardo S.p.A.[2] The helicopter is designed for armed reconnaissance and attack missions in hot and high environments and rough geography in both day and night conditions.[5][6]

The ATAK programme was begun to meet the requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces for an armed tactical reconnaissance and attack helicopter. The T129 is the result of the integration of Turkish-developed avionics, airframe modifications, and weapon systems onto the AgustaWestland A129 airframe, with upgraded engines, transmission and rotor blades. It is in use by the Turkish Army and other services including the Turkish Gendarmerie.[7][8][9] The helicopter has a unit cost of roughly US$50 million.[10]

  1. ^ a b c d "T129 ATAK". Turkish Aerospace. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b Leonardo S.p.A. (2021). "T129 ATAK: a success story". leonardocompany.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021. Advanced multi-role combat helicopter based on the Leonardo AW129, developed in Turkey by Turkish Aerospace Industries for the national and international markets. The helicopter business is a model of successful cooperation between Leonardo and the Turkish industries.
  3. ^ "Kotil: En başarılı olduğumuz alan helikopter" [Kotil: The field where we are most successful is helicopter] (in Turkish). cnnturk.com. 11 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Turks are on the ATAK... | Times Aerospace". timesaerospace.aero.
  5. ^ "T129 ATAK" (PDF). Turkish Aerospace. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  6. ^ "News Archives". Airforce Technology. 3 October 2017.
  7. ^ "T129 ATAK completes first demo flights in Poland". Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference tai.com.tr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ SABAH, DAILY (25 February 2021). "TAI delivers ATAK Phase-2 helicopter to Turkish police forces". Daily Sabah. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  10. ^ "T129 ATAK Helikopterinin fiyatı ne kadar?". Savunma Sanayi ST (in Turkish). 24 May 2021.

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