Turkish Aerospace is building a new six tonne attack helicopter T629, which will reside between the T129 ATAK and the recently announced 10-tonne multi-role heavy combat helicopter, the company’s CEO Prof. Dr. Temel Kotil reveals to Daily News. “The designs have been finalised and we plan to carry out the first flight of this new helicopter in about a year,” Prof Kotil says on the sidelines of the ongoing ADEX 2019. The announcement to build the T629 helicopter comes amid TAI’s decision to build a 10-tonne Multi-Role Heavy Combat Helicopter ATAK-2, which TAI claims will have a weapons payload that is as much as the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Technical specifications of the new T629 was not immediately available. But the Heavy Class Attack Helicopter Project ATAK-2, which was launched early this year, aims to design and produce an effective and advanced attack helicopter with high maneuverability and performance that is capable of carrying a large useful load, resistant to challenging environmental factors and equipped with state-of-the-art technology target tracking and imaging, electronic warfare, navigation, communications and weapon systems. The project also aims to maximize the use of domestic systems to ensure supply security and export freedom. “We have chosen not to go ahead with design partners as we now have enough technical and design skills to complete our programmes,” Prof Kotil says. The Performance Evaluation Phase of the Heavy Class Attack Helicopter Project is expected to be completed this year and the first test flight of the helicopter is planned for 2024. The heavy helicopter to be developed will have a takeoff weight approximately twice that of the current ATAK helicopter and will be among the top-class attack helicopters. The technical properties of the helicopter include two turbo shaft engines. The new helicopter will be able to accommodate over 1,200 kilograms of useful load and will have a tandem cockpit, capable of working in high altitude and high-temperature conditions and be resistant to environmental factors. With advanced electronic warfare and countermeasure systems, the helicopter will be equipped with high-caliber cannon, new generation 2.75-inch rockets, long-range anti-tank missiles with different guidance systems and air-to-air missile systems. Referring to the new generation, twin engine, 6 tonne class GÖKBEY Multirole Helicopter, Prof Kotil says, “It is presently undertaking certification trials in Turkey. Deliveries are planned to start in 2021 and I believe the 12-seater will offer operators and customers best in class performance. It is very cost competitive as well.” Turkish Fighter Giving an update on the 5th generation Turkish Fighter programme, Prof. Kotil says, “We are working on the weapons systems and low observability features and the programme is going very well. The roll-out of the Turkish fighter is planned for 2023, with the first flight scheduled to take place in 2025. Customer deliveries are planned to commence in 2029. “TF-X is going great now. We are working day and night and we have hired 1,000 engineers for our fighter programmes and are building massive intellectual capabilities. We are investing very heavily in new composite facilities and are building a 95.000 sq feet new facility. It will be ready in a year. We are sufficiently funded to complete the programme and that is not a worry,” he adds. TAI’s Focus at ADEX2019 Besides various helicopter programmes, Turkish Aerospace is currently amid an expansion in its activities, with the development of a 5th generation fighter aircraft, trainer aircraft and more sophisticated unmanned aerial systems (UAS). “We are taking part in Seoul ADEX 2019 for two reasons, one is to showcase our products here in South Korea and secondly to interact with companies that are attending the show, Prof Kotil says. “Korea has a full-scale aerospace industry with all the sub systems required and we are looking to engage further with Korean companies, even though we are not participating in any tenders here. We are looking at greater cooperation with our customers,” he adds.
As Tehran and Moscow continue military cooperation, Iran has acquired advanced Sukhoi-35 fighter jets from Russia to bolster its military…
Israeli company Smartshooter has unveiled its latest counter-UAS (C-UAS) solution: Smash Dome. The lightweight, portable, and adaptable solution supports both…
The Israeli ministry of defence is evacuating a new shopping list submitted by Morocco. Israeli defence sources said that the…
Sentrycs has introduced HORIZON, an AI-driven counter-drone system designed to detect a wide range of DIY drones, including those that…
Terma has signed a contract with Swiss aerospace and telecommunications company SWISSto12 to supply key equipment for the HummingSat project,…
The first of the two Airbus-built new generation SpainSat satellites, SpainSat NG-I, has been successfully launched on a Falcon 9…
Embraer has begun accepting applications for its Social Tech Careers programme, a free technology training initiative designed for women and…
A renaming ceremony was held at Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard on Wednesday (Jan. 29) for two Multipurpose Combat Ships / Pattugliatore…
Switzerland-based JEKTA, the manufacturer of the zero-emissions PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft, has formed two new strategic partnerships to enhance its…
The Hungarian Ministry of Defence and EDGE, a prominent advanced technology and defence group, have signed a letter of intent…
Boom Supersonic has announced the successful first supersonic flight of the company's XB-1 demonstrator aircraft at Mojave Air & Space…
BlackSky Technology Inc. has signed a seven-year contract worth over $100 million with a long-term strategic partner in the international…
Malaysia will equip one of its Lekiu-class frigates with the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), an anti-ship surface-to-surface missile developed by…
The U.S. Army has awarded L3Harris Technologies full-rate Manpack and Leader radio production orders under the Handheld, Manpack & Small…
L3Harris recently attached an advanced multirole electronic warfare (EW) capability to a T7 robot and demonstrating it at Vanguard 2024,…
Airbus Helicopters secured 455 gross orders (450 net) in 2024, demonstrating robust market growth with notable demand for its light,…
Piaggio Aerospace, encompassing Piaggio Aero Industries and Piaggio Aviation, has signed a preliminary contract to transfer its business complexes to…
Calian Group Ltd. has announced the appointment of Major-General (Ret.) Roch Pelletier to the newly established position of Regional Vice…
Airnguru, a provider of airline fare management and pricing optimisation solutions, has announced significant financial progress and growth milestones. The…
AMMROC, a UAE-based provider of military maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with…
The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD has signed a contract worth about $80 million with Elbit Systems for the development…
As part of the Italy-Saudi Arabia institutional round table, ELT Group has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with SAMI Advanced…
Leonardo, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment (MISA), and General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding…
Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft to 86 customers around the world in 2024. The commercial aircraft business registered 878 gross…
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has concluded the Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) for its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKM…
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to deliver propulsion and manoeuvring systems for two new KCR-70 Fast Attack Craft (FAC)…
Representatives from KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales gathered in Paris to formalise the creation of the "MGCS…
ST Engineering's Commercial Aerospace business has signed a five-year CFM LEAP engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract with new…
Embraer is working with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) to expand the use of renewable energy at its U.S.…
The use of the combat-proven Rafael Spyder air defence system in the ongoing war in Israel has created interest in…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.