Turkey’s Heavy Duty T929 ATAK-2 Attack Helicopter Takes Off For The First Time
The T929 Heavy Duty Attack Helicopter prototype, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) as part of the ATAK-2 Project initiated by the Turkish Defense Industry Agency, successfully completed its first flight test. Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, President of Turkey’s Defense Industry Agency, posted footage of ATAK-2’s first flight on his social media account. In his message, Demir said, “We join the TEKNOFEST enthusiasm in Istanbul with good greetings from Ankara. Our Heavy Duty Attack Helicopter ATAK-2 took off for the first time. We congratulate the Turkish Aerospace Industry and all our contributors.”
Arif Ateş, who serves as the “chief test pilot” at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), shared his first flight experiences with the ATAK-2 helicopter in an interview, saying, “Weather conditions were not very favorable. There was wind and rain. We did our final tests outside while keeping an eye on the weather conditions. After a few ground runs, we said, ‘Yes, we will fly today.’ We started the engine again. Our initial thought was to make a short flight. However, according to the condition of the helicopter, we evaluated that we could increase it a little more compared to the hover state. We stood stable at about 10-15 feet. This is what we call the flight of helicopters anyway. Hovering is the most difficult flight. Because all the flight controls must be in sync. We encountered a very stable helicopter at 15 feet hover. Extremely smooth and vibration free. Despite its huge weight, it was an extremely light flight.”
The Turkish Defense Industry Agency (SSB) and TAI signed a contract on the T929 ATAK-2 Heavy Duty Attack Helicopter project on 17 February 2019. The design work for ATAK-2, which was developed as a result of the company’s technological know-how and operational experience gathered through the T129 ATAK and T625 GÖKBEY Projects, began in April of the same year. An exact scale model of the ATAK-2 was displayed for the first time during the 14th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF-2019). In 2020 and 2021, the company produced parts and equipment for the helicopter after a rapid design process. The helicopter’s body assembly and final assembly operations were completed over the last three to four months.
On April 23, 2023, following the conclusion of the design and structural production activities, the first engine start of ATAK 2 was successfully completed. Following the engine tests, a taxi test was performed in which the helicopter was tested on the runway to verify telemetry and remote communication. As a result, the helicopter was ready for its first flight test on April 28 in a very short time.
According to TAI, the T929 ATAK 2 is designed to be suitable for tasks such as attack, close air support, air-ground and air-air combat, joint attack operations, and armed reconnaissance and surveillance. Like many other special attack helicopters, it has a tandem cockpit, short wing and fixed tailwheel type landing gear. The helicopter, which is stated to have a take-off weight of 11 tons, will be able to carry a minimum of 1500 kg of ammunition, excluding launchers. The helicopter, which has a total of 6 weapon stations under its two wings, will be able to carry unguided rockets, laser guided rockets, unguided bombs, anti-tank missiles and air-to-air missiles. Unlike the T-129 ATAK, the T929 ATAK-2 will have an Aselsan-manufactured 30mm automatic cannon system instead of a 20mm nose-mounted cannon. ATAK 2 will also have a 4-axis autopilot, helmet-integrated augmented reality supported imaging technologies, a target detection radar, and a detection system. The helicopter, with a maximum speed of 175 knots and a service ceiling of 20,000 feet, will be powered by two TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01T Turboshaft Engines built by the Ukrainian Motor Sich company until the domestically developed engine is ready.
The T929 ATAK-2, which will continue to be tested and developed after its first flight, is planned to be delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command in 2025. In the first phase, the Turkish Army will receive three ATAK II helicopters. Later, Turkish Aerospace Industries is expected to manufacture a naval variant of the helicopter for use by the Naval Forces Command on platforms such as the TCG ANADOLU LHD.