The Turkish TAI T929 ATAK 2 heavy attack helicopter, which uses Ukrainian TV3-117 turboshaft engines from Motor Sich JSC, made its first flight.
Turkish Aerospace Industries began development of a heavy attack helicopter in February 2020, based on the TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK light attack helicopter, which, in turn, is based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform from Italy's AgustaWestland (since 2016, Leonardo Helicopters). It is planned that the TAI T929 ATAK 2 will be used both by the Turkish Ground Forces and the Navy from aboard a UAV/helicopter carrier TCG Anadolu.
The TAI T929 ATAK 2 features tandem pilot and co-pilot seats, asymmetrical weapons bay, high ammunition capacity, low infrared (IR) signature, digital cockpit, ballistic protection, improved avionics, electronic warfare, and countermeasure capability.
In June 2021, Turkish Aerospace Industries and Motor Sich signed an agreement to supply 14 TV3-117 engines for TAI T929 ATAK 2 prototype helicopters. Each machine uses two 2,500 hp engines.
TAI T929 ATAK 2 specifications
Crew – 2 people
Maximum take-off weight – 10,000 kg
Power plant – 2 × TV3-117 turboshaft engines with a capacity of 1864.25 kW (2500.00 hp) each
Maximum speed – 318 km/h
Cruise speed – 314 km/h
Service ceiling - 6,096 m
Armament – 1 × 30-mm cannon, 6 hardpoints with a load capacity of up to 1500 kg
Missile armament options: 70-mm MKE FFAR, Hydra 70 or CRV7 unguided missiles; UMTAS and L-UMTAS anti-tank missiles; 70-mm Cirit guided missiles; PorSav, Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS), Air-to-Air Mistral (ATAM), Bozdoğan or AIM-9 Sidewinder anti-aircraft missiles.