T929 ATAK-II Performed Its First Flight Successfully
Under the T929 ATAK-II Heavy-Class Attack Helicopter Project, officially initiated in April 2019, the production of the first prototype (P0) began in the summer of 2022, and the final assembly activities were completed in February 2023. The P0 prototype took off from TAI's production facility in Ankara, Kahramankazan, at 15:16 on Friday, April 28, and completed its flight after being in the air for 10 minutes. The indigenous and national T929 ATAK-II P0 prototype, developed with domestic capabilities, operated all its systems as expected and successfully completed its first flight test. Following the completion of assembly activities, ground tests began for the T929 P0. On March 1, 2023, it successfully passed the First Power-On Test. It also successfully completed the first engine run test on April 23, 2023, with both engines being tested separately. After approximately 15 hours of ground engine run tests, it met the runway for taxi tests on April 28 and took to the skies for the first time. Emphasizing that they conducted approximately 11.5 hours of tests according to the pre-flight test plan, TUSAŞ Chief Test Pilot Arif ATEŞ shared his thoughts on the helicopter's performance: "We maintained stability at an altitude of approximately 10-15 feet. Hovering is the most challenging because all controls need to work in harmony. We hovered quite stably at 15 feet, remarkably without vibrations. Contrary to its size and weight, the flight was very smooth. We decided that we could further increase the controls and flight profile. We flew left and right, back and forth. Honestly, once we took off, we didn't want to land..."
After the first flight, flight tests will continue throughout the year with the T929 P0 prototype. In this context, it has been announced that in the advanced stage of the flight test program, the flight envelope will first be expanded, followed by the integration of weapons and missiles. The T929 ATAK-II will continue its verification activities and have two separate variants for the Land Forces and Naval Forces. The Naval Forces version must have a 'navalized' body, engine, and transmission (meaning reinforced against corrosive effects such as high humidity and salt in the marine environment). In fact, the helicopter's tail section and rotors also need to be foldable for easy transportation and to occupy less space on the ship's deck. TUSAŞ President & CEO Prof. Dr. Temel KOTİL announced that three T929 ATAK-II helicopters will be delivered to the Turkish Land Forces in 2025, and then two helicopters will be produced every month, making Türkiye one of the three countries in the world producing helicopters in this class.
Thanks to the testing infrastructure and experience obtained from the T625 GÖKBEY Helicopter Project, TUSAŞ has been able to implement the T929 ATAK-II Heavy-Class Attack Helicopter Program in a very short timeframe. As a result, for example, ground tests were completed very quickly. In fact, the first operational test of the transmission, which was designed and produced using domestic capabilities and used for the first time in ATAK-II, was directly conducted on the T929 P0 prototype instead of a test bench. After the İstikbalin Yüzyılı (Century of Future) Introduction Program held on May 1, 2023, Mehmet DEMİROĞLU, Executive VP of TUSAŞ Helicopters, provided us with information, highlighting that while the first flight of the ATAK-II Helicopter was targeted for April 30, the first flight actually took place two days earlier on April 28, 2023. DEMİROĞLU also stated that TUSAŞ is about to complete the work on the P1, which is the second prototype of the T929, and that the P1 prototype will have slightly smaller dimensions and a slightly different nose design compared to the P0. Following the P1, production of the P2, which will be the third prototype for the Land Forces Command, will begin. According to DEMİROĞLU, TUSAŞ will deliver 3 T929 ATAK-II helicopters to the Turkish Land Forces in 2025-2026. Production of the Naval Forces variant of the T929 is expected to start afterward, but according to DEMİROĞLU, as of May 1, 2023, no contract has been signed for the Naval Forces variant yet.
Additionally, according to the information I obtained from a source closely following the project, TUSAŞ has decided to temporarily pause/slow down the ATAK-II Program and focus on the T925 General Purpose Helicopter. I believe that this decision is significantly influenced by the delay in the supply of TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T Turboshaft Engines from Ukraine and the contract signed between the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) and the Defence Industry Agency (SSB) for 10 T925 Firefighting Helicopters. On May 3, 2023, a ceremony was held in Ankara at the General Directorate of Forestry Aviation Department facilities, with the participation of President ERDOĞAN, on the occasion of the delivery of a new firefighting helicopter (2nd T70 with a 2.5-ton water-dropping capacity) and aircraft (4x Air Tractor with 3-tons water dropping capacity and King Air 350ER ISR Aircraft). At the ceremony, it was shared that a contract worth US$208 Million has been signed with TUSAŞ for the procurement of 10 T925 Helicopters with a 4-ton water-dropping capacity. In this context, the delivery of the multi-role 10-ton Class T925 Firefighting Helicopters is planned to begin in 2026. The T925 10-ton Class General Purpose Helicopter is being developed based on the ATAK-II infrastructure. TUSAŞ President & CEO Temel KOTİL had previously shared during a special program on A Haber TV Channel in February 2022 that the T925 General Purpose Helicopter, which will have a common powertrain with the T929 ATAK-II, is scheduled to make its first flight on March 18, 2024. A total of 14 TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T Turboshaft Engines were ordered from Motor-Sich Company to be delivered by 2025 (deliveries may be delayed to 2026 due to the war), so at least six additional engines will be required for the 10 T925 helicopters, excluding spares.
T929 ATAK-II Heavy-Class Attack Helicopter Project
The Heavy-Class Attack Helicopter Project (ATAK-II) was initiated to meet Türkiye's future attack helicopter needs, utilizing the know-how and operational experience from the T129 ATAK and T625 GÖKBEY Projects. The conceptual design work for the project began on August 14, 2017, and was first announced to the public by TUSAŞ President & CEO Prof. Dr. Temel KOTİL on September 28, 2017. The first CGI images of ATAK-II were shared with the public by TUSAŞ in late October 2017.
Initially, ATAK-II was stated to have an empty weight of 6 tons and a maximum take-off weight of 8 tons. The Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) of the AW249 Attack Helicopter, which was developed by Leonardo Helicopters under a contract worth €487 million (US$515 million) signed with the Italian Army, was also stated as 8 tons. The AW249 prototype, powered by two 2,500 shp General Electric CT7-8E6 Turboshaft Engines, conducted its maiden flight test on August 12, 2022. However, during the contract signing ceremony on February 22, 2019, the MTOW of the ATAK-II Helicopter was updated to 10 tons. According to the contract, the first test flight was targeted to take place 5 years after the contract entered into force (T0+60 months). The contract came into effect in April 2019 (T0 commenced), and the first flight test with the T929 ATAK-II prototype (P0) was successfully conducted on April 28, 2023, in accordance with the contract schedule.
The ATAK-II Project was initially planned to have an 8.5-year timeline (T0+102 months), with the aim of developing two separate configurations of 10-tonHeavy-Class Attack Helicopters (the maximum takeoff weight was later updated to 12 tons) for the Turkish Navy and Land Forces Commands. At the end of the project, three prototype helicopters, along with the Technical Data Package (TDP), are planned to be delivered to the Defence Industry Agency (SSB).
The main technical specifications of ATAK-II were provided during the contract signing ceremony as follows:
10-Ton class (MTOW 12 tons),
• 2 turbo-shaft engines,
6 under-wing stations in total,
Payload capacity of over 1,200 kilograms, excluding launchers,
Tandem cockpit,
4-axis autopilot,
Service ceiling of 20,000 feet (6,096 meters),
Maximum speed of 318 km/h (171.7 knots),
Operational capability: -40/+50 degrees Celsius,
Ballistic protection against 12.7mm bullets,
Laser-Based Helicopter Obstacle Detection System (HETS) and Target Detection Radar (MİLDAR)
High altitude and high-temperature (hot-and-high) operational capability,
Resistant to environmental conditions,
High forward speed,
Advanced electronic warfare and countermeasure systems,
30mm single-barrel automatic cannon, next-generation 2.75-inch rockets, long-range anti-tank missiles with different guidance systems, as well as air-to-air missile systems.
The mock-up of the 10-Ton Class ATAK-II Helicopter, with front-drive turboshaft engines, was exhibited at the IDEF '19 Fair for the first time. During the press conference held on May 2, 2019, as part of the fair, Temel KOTİL stated that a new engine was needed for the ATAK-II Helicopter and that the helicopter would be equipped with two engines, each producing approximately 3,000 shp (shaft horsepower). KOTİL mentioned that although there is no project yet, this engine would also be domestically produced, but the prototype helicopters would fly with commercially available engines, similar to the GÖKBEY T625. Meanwhile, in December 2019, TEI made a presentation to SSB about the TS3000 turboshaft engine. However, SSB did not show interest in this new engine at that time and did not provide the necessary financial support. According to the information I got, the TS3000 was based on the experience and design of the TS1400 turboshaft engine, but it differed in having a 5-stage axial and 1-stage radial compressor. The TEI-TS1400 engine consists of 2 radial compressors, a reverse combustion chamber, a two-stage High-Pressure Turbine (HPT), and a two-stage Power Turbine (PT). TS3000 turboshaft engines, like the TS1400 and T700 engines (unlike the Turbomeca Makila engines of the Cougar Helicopters in service), transfer power output from the front of the engine. The transfer gearbox remains cold in front-drive turboshaft engines, allowing quick maintenance intervention when necessary. Additionally, this design enables the engine to be easily removed from the transmission. As a result, the preparation time for the helicopter for the next mission is significantly reduced in front-drive engines.
The search for a new engine for the 10-Ton Class ATAK-II Helicopter concluded in March 2021, and KOTİL announced that turboshaft engines manufactured by Motor-Sich would be used in the prototype helicopters. In June 2021, under the agreement signed between TUSAŞ and Motor-Sich, 14 TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T turboshaft engines (2,500 shp) were ordered for use in the initial production of 7 helicopters under the ATAK-II Project. The delivery of engines was scheduled to begin in September 2022 and be completed by 2025. However, due to the ongoing war that Russia initiated against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which continues as of today (May 2023), the timeline was delayed. The first batch of two TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T turboshaft engines only reached TUSAŞ facilities on January 27, 2023. The integration of the engines into the T929 P0 prototype was carried out in March 2023, followed by the necessary preparations for ground tests.
Also, I have learned that Motor-Sich informed TUSAŞ that they would not be able to deliver new engines after fulfilling the contract for the 14 TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T turboshaft engines due to the ongoing war. As a result, alternative solutions have been sought until the delivery of the TEI-TS3000 engine begins. It is mentioned that different options have been considered, such as reusing the engines from the Gendarmerie General Command's Mi-17 helicopters (same family of engines) or manufacturing TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T engines in Türkiye as part of the second phase of the agreement with Motor-Sich. In this context, TUSAŞ was going to collaborate with TEI for the production of Ukrainian engines in our country. Therefore, until the domestically developed TEI-TS3000 turboshaft engine is ready, it is planned to carry out the final assembly (with parts and components sent from Ukraine) and the production of certain parts in Türkiye. Meanwhile, in early May, TEI's General Manager, Prof. Dr. Mahmut AKŞİT, stated that they had not yet started the ATAK-II engine. He said, "Because our helicopter team is fully focused on the TEI-TS1400. The ATAK-II engine is currently of secondary priority." The rear-drive TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T engine features a torque shaft that passes through the exhaust of the engine. While this design allows for a relatively shorter motor shaft, it also leads to the critical component of the transmission operating in a hotter environment. Additionally, there are disadvantages, such as a long waiting time for the engine/exhaust to cool down when maintenance is required on the torque shaft. Based on the TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T turboshaft engine specifications, TUSAŞ engineers have updated the design of the T929 ATAK-II helicopter, and the first CGI images of the new design were shared with the public in May 2021. If the TEI-TS3000 engine to be developed for the T929 ATAK-II adopts a front-drive design like the one presented in December 2019 rather than a rear-drive design like the TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T, the helicopter would need to be revised to accommodate the new engine.
T929 ATAK-II Technical Specifications
Although it was announced on the day of the contract signing that the T929 ATAK-II Heavy-Class Attack Helicopter would have a maximum take-off weight of 10 tons, according to the latest statements by TUSAŞ, the design has slightly enlarged based on the requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces, and the maximum take-off weight of the helicopter has reached 11.5 tons. With this feature, ATAK-II has become the world's second-heaviest helicopter after the Mi-28NE Attack Helicopter developed by Russia.
According to data from Rosoboronexport, Mi-28NE Helicopter has a maximum take-off weight of 12,100kg, a payload capacity of 2,100kg, a service ceiling of 5,600m, and a maximum speed of 315km/h. With an empty weight of approximately 8,600kg, the Mi-28NE Helicopter has a length of 17.01m, a wingspan of 4.88m, and a height of 3.82m. The helicopter is powered by two VK-2500-02 turboshaft engines, each capable of generating 2,200shp. The newer Mi-28NM model is powered by two VK-2500P-01 engines (2,500shp) equipped with FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system. According to open sources, the MTOW (Maximum Take-off Weight) value for the Boeing AH-64D/E Apache Attack helicopter is 10,432kg, while the Kamov Ka-50/52 helicopter has an MTOW value of 10,800kg. The AH-64D/E Heavy Attack Helicopter has a maximum speed of 158 knots (293km/h), a cruise speed of 143 knots (265km/h), a service ceiling of 20,000ft (6,096m, with minimum payload), an empty weight of 5,165kg (11.387lb), gross weight of 8 tons (17,650lb), and MTOW of 10,432kg (23,000lb).
According to TUSAŞ, the T929 ATAK-II Helicopter has a maximum service ceiling of 20,000ft (6,096m), a maximum cruising speed of 296km/h, a range of 556km, and an endurance of 2.5 hours. Although TUSAŞ didn't state the dimensions of ATAK-II, according to TUSAŞ Chief Test Pilot Arif ATEŞ, ATAK-II is the world's largest attack helicopter. In his statement to Anadolu Agency, ATEŞ said, 'Currently, we can say that it is the world's largest attack helicopter in terms of length.
During the Defence Industry Press Meeting held on January 11, 2023, at the TUSAŞ Kahramankazan Campus, I had the opportunity to visit the Helicopter Final Assembly Line and see the T929 P0 prototype undergoing final assembly activities. Although the helicopter was not fully completed at that time (landing gear and engines were not installed), it immediately stood out with its larger body and height compared to the T129B ATAK, T70 TGMH, and T625 GÖKBEY Helicopters on the production line. On May 1, 2023, during the Century of Future Introduction Program attended by President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, we had the chance to closely examine and photograph the T929 P0 prototype after its successful first flight. The helicopter attracted attention with both its size and height.
In his statement to Anadolu Agency in April, the Chief Engineer of the Heavy Class Attack Helicopter Project Mehmet YILMAZ shared the following information about the ATAK-II helicopter: "It is a top-level helicopter in its class, capable of carrying a payload of 1.5 tons, which is a significant advantage. The helicopter is equipped with a 30x113mm low-recoil automatic cannon at the front of the nose. Just above it, there is an electro-optical camera. Our pilots will be able to detect targets and engage them with the 30-millimeter cannon using the AVCI Helmet that we are familiar with from the T129 ATAK. We have increased the number of wing stations from 2 to 3. We now have a total of 6 stations, which means we can carry 6 separate launchers. We are closely collaborating with ROKETSAN. We will integrate indigenous munitions. Additionally, there will be some additional munitions in ATAK-II. We will also integrate air-to-air missiles, providing a significant capability boost. The speed of our helicopter is 175 knots, which is very high. Our pilots requested these maneuverability and speed capabilities, and we designed a product accordingly. The helicopter is designed to operate at 175 knots, enabling significant evasion and dive maneuvers. Likewise, we will equip this helicopter with all domestically developed avionics and electronic warfare equipment, including our indigenous and national equipment. The helicopter will have a complete electronic warfare suite for self-protection, including systems such as Missile Warning System, RF Jammer, and DIRCM. It will have advanced self-protection features, as well as weapons, an avionics suite, and communication capabilities. We sincerely thank everyone who has supported and contributed to the development of this helicopter. We did this work together, and we succeeded together. From now on, we will continue to add new capabilities step by step. We will qualify and deliver our helicopter to the Turkish Armed Forces."
To meet the future operational needs of the Turkish Land and Naval Forces Commands, the T929 ATAK-II will have a complex avionic architecture and mission systems. Therefore, it will be produced in blocks. This means that the initially delivered helicopters will enter service with certain features, and additional capabilities will be added to the helicopter, followed by the incorporation of new features. The T929 will include National Navigation Systems (VOR/IS/TACAN), National IFF, National Data Link, National MFD, a domestically designed and produced 30x113mm caliber automatic cannon, Integrated Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite including Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) System, and the ASEFLIR-500 next-generation Electro-Optical (E/O) System. The T929 ATAK-II will have the METEKSAN DEFENCE product Millimeter Wave (MMW) MİLDAR Fire Control Radar and modern munitions such as UMTAS-GM Missiles being developed by ROKETSAN. It will be capable of conducting Air-to-Ground/Air-to-Air, Armed Reconnaissance and Surveillance, Close Air Support, Armed Escort, and Joint Attack Operations. Featuring a 'Man-in-the-loop' capability and a hybrid (IR and high-resolution CCD daytime camera) seeker, the UMTAS-GM Missile will initially enter service with a range of 25 kilometers. New versions with 30-kilometer and 40-kilometer ranges will also be introduced in subsequent phases. The missile's data-link system allows for real-time control and guidance by the operator, providing enhanced precision and effectiveness in engagements.
T929 ATAK-II Project and Local Content Rate
TUSAŞ President & CEO Temel KOTİL stated that the transmission, fuel system, landing gear, main rotor, shaft, and blades of the T929 ATAK-II are domestically designed and produced by TUSAŞ. It was also decided to use a 30x113mm gun on the T929 ATAK-II Helicopter, and SSB released a document regarding this to the relevant companies.
In his statement to Anadolu Agency in April, the Chief Engineer of the Heavy Class Attack Helicopter Project, Mehmet YILMAZ, shared the following information about the T929 ATAK-II Project, in which approximately 1,500 personnel were involved in the development and production process: "From the design team to program management and production planning to production engineering, everyone has made significant contributions. We have a design team of approximately 500 people, each specialized in their respective areas. One team is responsible for the fuselage design, while another team handles the transmission, which is a highly specialized unit and controls the helicopter's power. The rotor design is handled by yet another team, and we have a separate team for engine integration. We designed the landing gear ourselves and had it manufactured. Many of our subsystems are developed in collaboration with domestic subcontractors. We entrusted the design, production, testing, and installation of the fuel system to a domestic subcontractor. Similarly, we design and manufacture our own transmission, rotor, and specialized rotor blades. This technology, which started with ATAK and was further enhanced with GÖKBEY, has reached its pinnacle with ATAK-II. We can proudly say that this product is entirely our own. There has been significant dedication and effort from the designers to the planners, manufacturers, and technicians. You can clearly see the fruits of this labor in the helicopter. Our team worked around the clock, following a three-shift basis. They dedicated themselves tirelessly, sometimes skipping meals and working without rest. With great dedication, we have collectively brought the product to its current state."
During the Helicopter Final Assembly Line tour held on January 11, 2023, as part of the Defence Industry Press Meeting organized by TUSAŞ, I learned that TUSAŞ outsourced subcontractors for US$156 Million under the ATAK-II Project. In this context, the Center Fuselage of the T929 Helicopter is being produced by COŞKUNÖZ and delivered to TUSAŞ. TUSAŞ acquired helicopter blade production capability under the T129 ATAK Helicopter Program in 2012, and the first T129 ATAK Helicopter blade was produced on November 10, 2014. In addition to the T129, TUSAŞ also manufactures tail rotor and main rotor blades for the T929 ATAK-II, T625 GÖKBEY, and T70 Helicopters.
Between April 2019 to April 2023, over a period of 4 years, TUSAŞ successfully designed and integrated a powertrain specifically for the T929 ATAK-II Helicopter with double the capacity (6,000hp) of the one used in the T625 GÖKBEY helicopter. The first flight, which was completed successfully, served as a proof of concept for the system. I believe that the main flight-critical and dynamic components (such as main, middle, and rear gear and gearbox assemblies, shafts, and flight safety structural assemblies), as well as the flight control mechanism in the ATAK-II, were manufactured by Alp Aviation, which also played a similar role in the T70 and T625 GÖKBEY Helicopter Programs
