“Atak” Helicopters in the Inventory of the TAF

Speaking at the opening ceremony Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan indicating that with these deliveries we are witnessing an extremely important, historical day on behalf of our national defence said: “Meeting the defence system needs of our armed forces through local means has been one of our key priorities since the day we took office and will continue to be so. We know that developing our domestic industry, meeting the needs of our armed forces by domestic firms with indigenous products, and I especially want underline this, is a kind of struggle in our independence and future. For 12 years we have acted with this in mind. We believed in our local companies and the potential of our own people.  We started very critical, large-scale projects in every area to locally meet the defence requirements of Turkey and the modernisation of our army.  We signed off on important projects in land, air and sea platforms, UAVs, satellite technologies, electronic communication and information systems and in other areas. The projects we started are now bearing fruit.” Stressing that the Main Battle Tank “Altay,” National Corvette “MILGEM,” the MALE-Operative UAV, the Primary and Basic Trainer Aircraft “Hürkuş,” were only a few of the projects prepared by domestic means during the last few years, Prime Minister Erdoğan went on to add: “Today, we are adding another link in this chain of success. We are happy to have included our first helicopter to our armed forces with the “Atak” Project. Today, those who know the past of the “Atak” helicopter are a witness that arriving from those days to now was not very easy, that a very large effort was expended. We were destined to bring to life in a real sense this project and many other projects that were at a standstill for years. In the strategic decision we took in 2004 on this issue, we have today arrived at this point. The picture we are witnessing here together, show how correct, how appropriate our decision was.”

Stating that, “Including the mission computer many of the devices and equipment of the “Atak” helicopters were designed by Turkish engineers, Erdoğan said: “Our helicopters equipped with modern electronic and combat components, will, I believe, further strengthen us against the struggle with terrorism and in actions against our country’s integrity. In addition to this, our helicopters will be a deterrent against all attacks involving our borders and will contribute to securing an environment of peace. With the decision we adopted in May 2004, we commenced in identifying a new roadmap not only in producing a helicopter but in producing UAVs and modern tanks. Our Defence Industries Undersecretariat and the Land Forces Command (LFC) personnel undertook truly selfless work for our helicopter project. As a result of these efforts, we opened the tender in what can be considered a short period for such a large project. We signed the contract and began the calendar.”

Explaining that from the beginning the project was based on a joint setup with our friend and ally Italy, Erdoğan added: “Our Italian friends’ experience in basic helicopter science and our engineers’ skills were combined. Since the first day in Italy I was actually in deep thought as to ‘how can we produce this in our country.’ Later we invited AgustaWestland officials here and asked them to conduct their work with our friends at the SSM and to form solidarity, synergy and in the end we gained for our country today’s most modern attack helicopter.” Everyone knows the targets of international joint projects and the delays we experienced said PM Erdoğan, and added that employees of companies from different nations and different cultures by getting together and arriving at such a result is admirable just as much as the project itself. 

Expressing the view that the in terms of establishing a helicopter industry infrastructure in Turkey, this project was an extremely important milestone, Erdoğan stated that the helicopter’s only production line was established in Turkey and thus helicopters sold to third countries would again come off this production line. With the “Atak” Project, Turkey went from the position of a country buying helicopters to one of producing and exporting helicopters stressed Erdoğan, and stated that this was a large success for everyone, a historical step and a situation that is a source of pride for our nation and our people.

Indicating that the “Atak” Project had strategic importance not because it strengthened the armed forces but also because it was a role model for the defence industry, the PM thanked all organisations and employees that contributed to the project and wished that the “Atak” helicopters will be beneficial to our armed forces and to Turkey. 

In this remarks President Gül said: “Today we are very proud. A few kilometres from here, where the main contractor TAI is located we produced these helicopters in Turkey. Just as Boeing, Airbus was the principal contractors then, this time TAI is the principal contractor. Of course we received support from other places for this project. This shows the point that the Turkish defence industry has reached in particular in ‘know how’ in helicopter production. We produced not only the mechanical components in Turkey but very important systems, electronic warfare, weapons and avionics systems. These are points that require sophisticated, advanced technology. Right now we are proud of this.” In his closing remarks, Gül thanked the governments, the General Staff, the Ministry of National Defence, the SSM and all other organisations and individuals that contributed to the project from the beginning to the end and wished that this delivery would be beneficial to the nation.

The First Three Entry Helicopters in the Inventory 

The contract signed on September 2007 between the SSM and TAI for the “Atak” Project calls for the procurement of 50 T-129 helicopters for the LFC. Revisions in 2010 included an additional 9 helicopters to be delivered at an earlier date in view of the LFC’s urgent needs. Following acceptance tests the first 3 of the early entry helicopters were included in the LFC’s inventory.

In light of the importance of the “Atak” helicopter as a milestone in the establishment of the helicopter industry infrastructure, 42 different avionics and weapon systems were manufactured domestically. Through this project the “Pal” production capability was gained and the sole production line was established at TAI. For the first time TAI, as the principal contractor, undertook system integration, complete manufacturing engineering and will be responsible for lifetime logistic support for this large-scale project. Within the scope of this project, in addition to the Avionic Central Control Computer, the AVCI Helmet Integrated Cueing System, the Target Detection and Sighting System, the Ataletsel Navigation and Positioning System that primarily takes place in the helicopter’s configuration, the navigation, mission, command, visualisation, communication and electronic warfare and weapon control systems were developed by Aselsan. 

“Cirit” and “Mizrak-U” Missiles to be Mounted on “Atak” Helicopters

The 2 crew T-129 “Atak” Helicopters have 2 1,360 HP LHTEC CTS800-4A Turboshaft engines and can reach a maximum speed of 288 km/hour. Maximum takeoff weight is 5,000 kg with a range of 556 km. The first EDH helicopters have an important weapon power with a 20mm four 500 bullet capacity gun mounted on the nose and a 4 pod total seventy six 2.75” missile under the wings. In future deliveries, the integration of the Cirit and Mizrak-U missile systems developed by Roketsan and the HF and V/UHF wireless, the Radar Warning System, the Radar Scrambler System, the Laser Warning System and the Digital Map System developed by STM as well as the Stinger Air-to-Air Weapon Systems integration are foreseen.