interchangeable. Usually, a young pilot
sits in the forward cockpit for a couple
of years before becoming a commander
in the back.
Turkey’s AH-1 fleet is today composed
of the remaining handful of AH-1W Super
Cobras and an estimated 12-15 earlier
‘Papa’ models. Following the recent arrival
of the new T129, the AH-1P fleet is now
mainly used for training.Clone ATAK
In 1998, a shortlist of three contenders
was finalized for a new attack helicopter
requirement. On the list were the
(now Leonardo Helicopters) AW129(International), the Bell AH-1Z and the
Boeing AH-64 Apache. After several
cancellations and revivals of the tender,
on September 7, 2007, the contract for 51
T129 ATAK helicopters (plus 40 options)
was signed. These are all being assembled
by TAI, while Tusas Engine Industries
(TEI) is manufacturing the LHTEC
CTS800-4N engines under license, and
Aselsan supplies the indigenous mission
computer, avionics, weapons systems,
self-protection suites and the helmet-
mounted cueing systems.
The maiden flight of the T129 prototype
(P1) took place in Italy in September 2009,
while the first TAI prototype took to the airprotection against PKK SA-7 surface-to-air
missiles. The M136 helmet sight sub-
system (HSS) was implemented together
with a head-up display, night vision
goggle-compatible cockpit lighting, infra-
red jammers mounted above the engine
exhaust and an infra-red suppressing
engine exhaust system.
The Cobras suffer from poor
performance when flying at altitude.
Indeed, the AH-1P has a service ceiling of
only 12,200ft (3,720m) in ground effect,
whereas the Super Cobras can go up
to 14,750ft (4,558m), and have proved
reliable along the Iraqi border.
The two-man crew sees the pilot
occupying the rear cockpit and the
gunner in the front. According to standard
procedures within the AAC, the gunner
is a fully qualified pilot, so the roles areAH-1W
ON THE
OFFENSIVE
The AH-1Ws have regularly operated
with wire-guided BGM-71 TOW
and laser-homing AGM-114 Hellfire
air-to-ground missiles and with 750
rounds of ammunition for the M197
three-barrel, 20mm, Gatling-type
cannon. Two launcher pods for 70mm
Hydra unguided rockets can be
installed under the stub wings, each
one accommodating up to 19 rounds
in the LAU-61D/A pods. It can also be
loaded with the AIM-9 Sidewinder
air-to-air missile, the AGM-122 Sidearm
anti-radar missile, mini-gun pods and
external fuel tanks.Above: Turkey’s
older AH-1P/S
airframes have
a three-barrel
M197 cannon that
replaced the
TAT-141 turret.
Mauro Finati
Below: Turkish
industry has
added an Aselsan
self-defense
suite to the AH-1W
and AH-1P fleet,
with chaff and
flare dispensers,
missile approach
and laser warning
receivers.
Paolo Rollinohttp://www.combataircraft.net // March 2018 83
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