Page 23 - SAHA EXPO 2024 - DAY 1

the PAF took delivery of its first two T129s 17 optional), 27 to the Turkish Ministry Warning System (MWS) and advanced
in March, 2022, with two more helicopters of Interior (24 definite and 3 optional), self-protection using enhanced chaff and
delivered in December the same year. Philippines Air Force (six) and Nigerian Air flare Countermeasures Dispensing System
Force (six). T129 ATAK helicopters are in use (CMDS), radar and IR jamming capability.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) inducted its with the Turkish Land Forces since Q2 2014
newly acquired T-129 ATAK helicopters High Export Potential for Gokbey
earlier this year in February, at NAF Base, The T129 is heavy armed for its size with The T625 GÖKBEY utility helicopter is also
Makurdi, Benue State. The new platforms four wing stations carrying a range of weap- receiving strong export enquiries. Interest
would enhance NAF’s firepower as it jointly ons. It also has a chin-mounted 20 mm tur- in the T625 has grown since it was demon-
confronts the various security challenges in reted gun with 500 rounds. It can carry eight strated at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow
the country, alongside sister services and UMTAS Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) in July. Turkish Aerospace presently has
other security agencies, an NAF spokes- or 76 x 70 mm (2.75”) classic rockets or domestic orders for 20 T625s with pro-
person said. The helicopters will be used 48 x 70 mm (2.75”) classic rockets or 16 duction of the helicopters underway. The
for counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, x 70 mm (2.75”) CIRIT guided ATGMs or helicopter will be able to undertake a diverse
anti-crude oil theft and anti-kidnapping mis- eight Stinger Air-to-Air (AAM) missiles or array of missions, including VIP transport,
sions in Nigeria. According to Nigeria’s Chief two auxiliary fuel tanks carrying 294L each. cargo transport, air ambulance services,
of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, search and rescue operations, and offshore
the NAF plans to induct 46 new aircraft of The T129 incorporates totally new system transportation missions.
various types over the next 18 months. philosophy with new engines, avionics, elec-
tro-optics and weapons, modified airframe,
Powerful Performer uprated drive train and new tail rotor. It has The T625 successfully completed its inau-
a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of gural flight in September 2018 and in April
The T129 ATAK Helicopter was developed 5065 kg and can attain a maximum cruise 2023, the T625 P1 Prototype made its first
to fulfill the attack helicopter requirements speed of 281 km/h. The helicopter which flight powered by TS1400 Turboshaft en-
of the Turkish Armed Forces, leveraging has a service ceiling of 15,000 feet has a gines developed and produced by TEI. The
Turkey’s specific national capabilities and range of 537 km and can stay in the air for T625 will be able to operate effectively in
has been optimized for challenging “hot and eight hours. It is powered by two LHTEC high-altitude and high-temperature condi-
high” missions, effectively supporting the CTS800-4a turboshaft engines, which gen- tions day and night, even in the most chal-
operations of the Turkish Armed Forces with erate a take-off power of 2X1024 kw. lenging climates and geographies and draws
its high manoeuvrability and performance upon the knowledge, expertise, experience,
in both day and night conditions. The attack helicopter’s battlefield surviv- and capabilities gained during the ATAK
ability is maximized by state of the art in- Programme. The design and production
As part of the ATAK Programme, approx- tegrated Aircraft Survivability Equipment of critical systems for the T625, such as
imately 80 T129 ATAK Helicopters have (ASE) including advanced Electronic Warfare transmission, rotor, landing gear, as well as
been built with orders from the Turkish (EW) processor, Radar Warning Receiver structural and avionics systems, are being
Land Forces Command (59 definite and (RWR), Laser Warning System (LWS), Missile carried out indigenously.

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