on August 17, 2011. Meanwhile, in
November 2010, shortly after Turkey
placed a €150-million contract with
AgustaWestland for nine T129s in an
interim configuration called T129A EDH
(Early Delivery Helicopter), an order for a
further 51 T129Bs brought the total
number of firm orders to 60. The EDH is
armed only with a 20mm chain gun
(with 500 rounds) and a maximum of
four rocket launchers under external
pylons with a total of 76 unguided
rockets. The remaining T129Bs are
delivered in full operational
configuration — 18 of them had arrived
by the end of 2016.The T129 is optimized to operate in
hot-and-high conditions, and to be
capable of a wide range of missions
including attack and reconnaissance.
The four hardpoints on the stub wing
pylons can carry a weapons payload
comprising anti-tank guided missiles
(ATGMs), air-to-air missiles and 70mm
(2.75in) guided or unguided rockets. In
the final configuration, the T129 will use
Mizrak ATGMs and Roketsan Cirit
(70mm) laser-guided rockets designed
for the Turkish Armed Forces and Stinger
or Mistral air-to-air missiles, ensuring
effective and multi-role day and night
capabilities also with asymmetric loads.Optional armament includes 12.7mm
gun pods, while a 20mm turreted
three-barrel gun system is always fitted
under the nose. An integrated suite of
self-protection measures allows the
T129 to operate in a complex battlefield
environment.
To accelerate the initial operating
capability of the T129, 27 experienced
pilots each spent 100 days at Viterbo,
Italy, for a basic training course to
build the initial cadre of ATAK pilots.
Now that the type is firmly established
in service, even pilots who were staunch
advocates of the Apache are impressed
with their new mounts.Above left to right:
The S-70A-28D’s
digital cockpit.
Paolo Rollino
The S-70A-28D
has a new
helicopter
electronic warfare
system, including
a radar warning
receiver, laser
detection system,
a frequency
jammer and
the Özisik
countermeasures
dispensing
system.
Carlo Kuit/
Paul KievitA handful of UH-1Hs are
assigned to advanced pilot
training. Paolo RollinoFORCE REPORT // TURKISH ARMY AVIATION
84 March 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
80-87 Turkish Army C.indd 84 19/01/2018 17:03