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Agusta A129 Mangusta
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The Agusta A129 Mangusta (Mongoose) (AW129 from June 2007) is an attack helicopter manufactured by Agusta (part of AgustaWestland) of Italy. It is the first attack helicopter to be designed and produced wholly in Western Europe. A developed version, the T129, will be produced in Turkey by TAI for the Turkish Army.
Development
The A129 Mangusta was developed to provide an anti-tank attack helicopter for the Italian Army.
Discussion
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Encyclopedia
The Agusta A129 Mangusta (Mongoose) (AW129 from June 2007) is an attack helicopter manufactured by Agusta (part of AgustaWestland) of Italy. It is the first attack helicopter to be designed and produced wholly in Western Europe. A developed version, the T129, will be produced in Turkey by TAI for the Turkish Army.
Development
The A129 Mangusta was developed to provide an anti-tank attack helicopter for the Italian Army. An export version, the A129 International, is a lower-cost helicopter with added firepower and upgraded avionics.
Design of the A129 began in 1978. The first of five Mangusta prototypes performed its initial official flight on 15 September 1983, and the fifth prototype first flew in March 1986.
The A129 can be used in the anti-armour, armed reconnaissance, ground attack, escort, fire support and anti-aircraft roles.
In the anti-armour role, the helicopter can carry either Hellfire, TOW or Spike-ER missiles, or a mix of them. The A129 can also be equipped with 81 mm or 70 mm (2.75 in) unguided rockets and has a three-barrel 20 mm cannon in a turret mounted under its nose.
For the anti-aircraft role, Stinger or Mistral missiles can be carried.
The A129 is equipped with autonomous navigation and night vision systems in order to provide both day/night and all-weather combat capabilities.
In 1986, the governments of Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding to investigate an improved version of the A129, called the Joint European Helicopter Tonal. ("Tonal" was derived from the name of an Aztec deity.) The Tonal was to have more powerful engines, a new rotor system, retractable landing gear, improved sensors and more powerful armament. However, the project collapsed in 1990 when Britain and the Netherlands decided to obtain the AH-64 Apache instead. Spain has since acquired the Eurocopter Tiger.
The new 15-passenger AgustaWestland AW139 utility helicopter is designed around the transmission of the A129.
In the Australian Army's AIR 87 project to acquire Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters, the Agusta A129, the AH-64 Apache, and the Eurocopter Tiger were short-listed from the six original tenders. In December 2001 it was announced that the contract was awarded to the Eurocopter Tiger.
T129 ATAK
Turkey announced on 30 March 2007 that it had decided to negotiate with AgustaWestland to purchase 51 (+40 optional) A129 helicopters. Based on the A129 International, they will be assembled in Turkey by TAI as the T129. The deal is reported to be worth $3 Billion. The final contract was signed on September 7, 2007.
On 22 June 2008, the agreement between TUSAS Aerospace Industries and AgustaWestland formally entered into force. It has now been confirmed that the T129 will be a 100% Turkish built platform. Under the agreement, TAI will develop an indigenous mission computer, avionics, weapons systems, self-protection suites and the helmet-mounting cuing systems. TUSAS Engine Industries Inc (TEI) will manufacture the LHTEC CTS800-4N engines under licence. Under the agreement, Turkey has full marketing and intellectual property rights for the T129 platform. There are also no restrictions imposed on Turkey for the export or transfer of the platform to third countries (excluding Italy and the United Kingdom).
The T129 has several key improvements over the original A129 in line with the requirements of the Turkish Army:
- The T129 will carry 12 Roketsan developed UMTAS anti-tank missiles (Turkish indigenous development similar to Hellfire II);
- More powerful LHTEC T800 (CTS800-4) engines have increased the maximum hovering altitude by 20%;
- Two launchers for Stinger AA missiles (a total of 4 can be carried) have been added to the exterior sides of the pylons;
- Mast radar, similar to that used in the Apache Longbow. The mast radar for TUC-1 will be based on IAI/ELTA's (Israel) surveillance and targeting radar with SAR and ISAR capability. The radar can identify land and sea targets from at least 30 kilometres. The Mast Radar for TUC-2 will be an indigenous development. On 16 July 2007, TÜBITAK (Turkish State Research Organization), METEKSAN Savunma Sanayii A.S and Bilkent University formed a consortium for the development of an advanced millimetre wave radar, similar to the Longbow and the IAI/ELTA radars. It is planned that the radar will enter service in mid-2009.
According to Savunma ve Havacilik (Defence and Aerospace) magazine, the 51 T-129 attack helicopters will be assigned as follows:
- One helicopter will be kept by the Turkish Ministry of Defense and will be used as a test-bed for systems development.
- The remaining 50 helicopters will be delivered to the Turkish Army. 40 more T-129 helicopters (optional) will be produced if necessary.
- The 50 T-129 helicopters will be in two different configurations, TUC-1 and TUC-2 (TUC: Turkish Configuration.)
The first 30 out of 50 will be TUC-1, while the following 20 will be TUC-2.
- T-129 TUC-1 (the first 30 units) will have:
- Indigenous mission computer
- Indigenous EW and countermeasures
- Aselsan AselFLIR-300
- Foreign helmet-mounted cueing system (either Elbit or Thales)
- Foreign missile (either Hellfire II or Spike ER)
- T-129 TUC-2 (the following 20 units) will have:
- Indigenous mission computer
- Indigenous EW and countermeasures
- Aselsan AselFLIR-300
- Aselsan AVCI helmet-mounted cueing system
- Roketsan UMTAS missile
- Roketsan Cirit Laser guided 2.75"
Operational history
The Italian Army is currently (2007) the sole A129 operator and is equipped with 45 A129 Mangusta versions and has ordered another 15 A129 International versions. The Agusta A129 CBT (combat configuration) version in Italian service is based on the International, but retains the original Gem engines (see above). The first A129CBTs were delivered in October 2002. In January 2002, AgustaWestland was awarded a contract to upgrade the first 45 A129 Mangusta versions to the multi-role Agusta A129 CBT standard.
In Italian service, the Mangusta has successfully deployed with UN missions to former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Somalia and Angola. Three helicopters were deployed in Iraq before the Italian expedition's withdrawal. Also, some are now being shipped to Afghanistan, to reinforce the Italian Army there, which has only infantry units without Italian air support.
Variants
Production models
- A129 Mangusta: Original production version, powered by two Rolls-Royce Gem 2 turboshafts.
- A129 International: Upgraded version with five-bladed rotor, nose turret, support for Hellfire and Stinger missiles, advanced avionics equipment and two LHTEC T800 turboshafts.
- A129 CBT(ComBaT): Upgraded version for the Italian army that incorporates the same advances as the A129 International version, but retains the original Gem turboshaft engines (although an uprated transmission system is fitted). It is reported that the cockpit layout is simpler than that of the A129 International.
- T129: Turkish attack helicopter based on the A129 International; will be assembled in Turkey by TAI.
Proposed models
- A129 LBH: A multipurpose assault helicopter version with a structure completely different from the standard A129s, having space for carrying eight soldiers in addition to the two crew. (The abbreviation LBH stands for Light Battlefield Helicopter.)
- A129 Multi-Role Proposed version, not built.
- A129 Scout: Proposed reconnaissance version, not built.
- A129 Shipboard: Proposed naval version, not built.
- A129 Tonal: Proposed derivative for Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and United Kingdom, with more powerful engines, a new rotor system, retractable landing gear, improved sensors, and more powerful armament. Cancelled in 1990.
Operators
Specifications (A129)
A129 International
See also
External links
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