Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) exhibits its aerial platforms at International Defence Industry Fair Istanbul Tüyap Fair and Congress Centre. ATAK II and Gökbey helicopter, Hurjet and TF-X aircraft, Anka UAV are exhibited together. Aksungur UAV, T129 Atak helicopter and Hürkuş aircraft are displayed in the open air.
Atak II helicopter has been displayed before, but its engine was uncertain until late June 2021. TUSAŞ and the Ukrainian “Motor Sich” company signed a Heavy Duty Attack Helicopter engine contract on June 28th. The agreement was signed by Marketing and Trade Director Pavel A. Kasay from Ukraine and TUSAŞ CEO Temel Kotil.
Within the scope of the agreement, 14 engines will be supplied from Ukraine, and the maiden flight of the Heavy Duty Attack Helicopter (T929) will be carried out in 2023.
The Heavy Duty Attack Helicopter (also known as ATAK II) will have approximately twice the take-off weight of the current T129 ATAK helicopter. T129 serves to Turkish Land Forces, Turkish Gendarmerie General Command and General Directorate of Security.
According to the agreement, the deliveries of the first two engines should begin in 2022 September and be completed by 2025. The Heavy Duty Attack will be equipped with 2,500 horsepower tv3-117 VMA-SBM1V Series Turboshaft twin engines. It will be a 10-ton class helicopter with 1 500 kg payload capacity. Russian Klimov and Ukrainian Motor Sich companies manufacture the same engine family. The engine powers up Ka-27, Mil Mi-8, Mi-24, Mi-28 helicopters.
T929 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter. It has asymmetrical weapon loading capability, high ammo-carrying capacity, low infra-red (IR) and acoustic trace, digital cockpit design, high ballistic resistance, advanced EW and countermeasure systems.
It can carry high-calibre cannons, new generation rockets, long-range anti-tank missiles and air-to-air missile systems.
It can be used for air-to-ground combat, air-to-air combat, armed reconnaissance and surveillance, close air support (CAS), armed escort, or joint offensive operations as a multi-role helicopter. It will be equipped with a Laser-based Helicopter Obstacle Detection System (HETS) and Fire Control Radar (MilDAR).
