Turkish T-129 ATAK attack and multirole combat helicopter ready for duty.

Lt. Col Aydin stated that pilots who will use the helicopters received a special for 4 months and now both the pilots and the helicopters are ready to act at any time. Aydin said four more helicopters will be taken to the TSK in the next week.

The helicopter was developed as a part of the ATAK project, which has been under way since late 2007. Following a contract with a total value of $3 billion signed with Finmeccanica’s AgustaWestland, an Italian defense electronics group, Turkey started studies for the production of ATAK helicopters.

T-129 ATAK is a new generation, tandem two-seat, twin engine helicopter specifically designed for attack and reconnaissance purposes. Turkish engineers added some extra parts, including avionics and heavy armor to the first model developed as a part of the ATAK helicopter project. Turkey’s first nationally developed laser guided missiles code-name Cirit (Jereed) and Hydra rockets can be launched by the ATAK T-129. The T-129 is also able to carry Hellfire antitank missiles and to launch anti-aircraft Stinger missiles.