TAI Eager to Win Poland “KRUK” Tender
Notably the Ambassador of Turkey to Poland Yusuf Ziya Özcan, Undersecretariat for Defence Industry’s (SSI) Deputy Undersecretary Celal Sami Tüfekçi and high – level officers from Poland and Turkey, representatives of defence and aerospace industry companies and members of the press participated to the signing ceremony at TAI’s stand prepared for the cooperation within the scope of Polish Air Forces’ “Attack Helicopter Procurement Program (KRUK)”. The contract was signed between the manufacturer of T129 ATAK Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter TAI and WCBKT, WZL1, ITWL and MESKO companies operating in Poland. As part of the KRUK program, replacement of Soviet design Mil Mi-24D/W ‘Hind’ helicopters at the inventory of Polish Armed Forces with the procured 32 advanced technology tactical reconnaissance and attack helicopters is aimed. The RFP is expected to be issued by the end of 2015. According to the Polish defence authorities, the helicopters to be procured are anticipated to be included into the inventory in years 2017-2018. Within the scope of the program the Airbus (EC665 Tiger HAD), TAI (T129 Atak), Bell Helicopter (AH-1Z) and Boeing (AH-64E) are competing. The total amount of 32 helicopters and logistical training package is expected to be 1,5 billion $.
Promotion Tour for T-129 “Attack” Helicopter in Poland
In line with the T129 Attack Helicopter Poland Promotion Tour; the first demonstration flight in Poland skies took place at the Radom Aerospace Fair on 22-23 August 2015. Following this flight, a special demonstration flight was realized for the Polish authorities and press members in Warsaw’s Babice Airport on 28 August 2015 while the Attack helicopter accomplished demonstration flights in 6 different cities and 8 different airports until the MSPO fair. Under Undersecretariat for Defence Industry’s National Participation coordination, the Attack Helicopter was additionally displayed at the static area at the MSPO Fair.
Early Delivery Helicopters at Turkish Armed Forces Inventory
In accordance with the Attack/ Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter (“Atak”) Project of which the contract was signed between the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries and TAI in September 2007, procurement of 50 attack and tactical reconnaissance purposed T129 “Atak” helicopters demanded by the Land Forces Command was planned. With the amendment made in 2010, in order to immediately fulfil Land Forces Command’s requirements, in addition to the 50 lot project, nine helicopters in Early Delivery Configuration were included into the project to be delivered before the T129 “Atak” Helicopters. The last of the Early Delivery Helicopters (EDH) was delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces on 31 July 2015. The first three lots of these helicopters were delivered in June 2014. Following the delivery of the EDH’s, the delivery of the T-129B serial production configurations to be equipped with indigenous domestic material and that are under integration and production processes is planned to take place in the first months of 2016.
T-129 B Configuration to be equipped with “Mızrak” ATGM and “Cirit” Lazer Guided Missile
Configuration of the first batch of 9 helicopters, “T129A-EDH (Early Delivery Helicopters)” is a response to Turkish Armed Forces urgent operational requirements. T129A is the “combat support” version equipped with a nose-mounted 20mm. turreted gun with 500 rounds capability and can carry up to 4 rocket launchers under external pylons with a total of 76 unguided 2.75” rockets.
The T129B is the “multi-role” version and will also feature “Mızrak” ATGMs and “Cirit”(70 mm. Laser Guided Air-to-Ground Missiles) designed for Turkish Armed Forces. Multi weapon asymmetric loading capability enables using different weapon systems during the same mission, broadening the mission profile. Further armament options include Hellfire or Spike ATGMs and Stinger air-to-air missiles, ensuring effective and multirole day and night capabilities.
