TR Attack & Utility Helicopter Programs

[Saithan]

In that case cancelling the T629 makes even less sense because the weight was much closer to T129 and that in itself would mean that we would have been able to deliver our own engine to a combat helicopter much sooner than a drawing on a paper.

with drones and loitering ammo in the air, and with Ukraine shooting down a fighterjet with a drone we've entered a new era, and all we got is Gökbey with CTS-800.

 

[Yasar_TR]

In that case cancelling the T629 makes even less sense because the weight was much closer to T129 and that in itself would mean that we would have been able to deliver our own engine to a combat helicopter much sooner than a drawing on a paper.

with drones and loitering ammo in the air, and with Ukraine shooting down a fighterjet with a drone we've entered a new era, and all we got is Gökbey with CTS-800.

Apart from Attack helicopters becoming natural and easy targets for drones and many air defence systems, T-129 has certain deficiencies that were subject for complaints. Being light and weak armoured were some of them. It had balancing issues. The force really had it’s hearts set in a heavy Atak-2.
But currently, the Atak helicopter fills in the need for our attack helicopter needs. It performs really well in the terrain it is operated.
We have to prioritise where we need to invest carefully in the short term. A T-925 is more urgent than a heavier attack helicopter at the moment. Armed forces etc have nearly 80+ of T-129 delivered or about to be delivered. There is no immediate need for more.

 

[I_Love_F16]

@Yasar_TR I thought TAI had the exclusive IP right of the T-129 ?

 

[Sanchez]

@Yasar_TR I thought TAI had the exclusive IP right of the T-129 ?

That part of the deal is a bit vague. Agusta/Leonardo didn't offer A129 to anyone after Turkey.

 

[Yasar_TR]

@Yasar_TR I thought TAI had the exclusive IP right of the T-129 ?

Under the agreement, Turkey has full marketing and intellectual rights of the T-129 helicopter.
But not of the foreign sourced components of the helicopter like the engines. The transmission was developed and built jointly by Tusas and Leonardo. Turkey probably has full rights over that too.

We may have full IP rights for the helicopter. But the joint partnership of the platform itself between Tusas and Leonardo, where the latter has provided the base platform and it’s technology has a say as a partner.
Tusas here has been focusing on indigenous development of mission computers, avionics, weapons systems, and other components. And holds full Intellectual Property rights.

But Leonardo, (Then Augusta Westland) must have provided the original design , and the contract drawn out must have stipulated the use of a CTS-800 engine which would be licence produced at TEI.

Edit:
I think we can sell it to anyone but Italy or UK!!!

 

[begturan]

This issue was discussed here before. T-129 Atak, albeit a Turkish built helicopter, it is a Turco-Italian joint venture project that allows us to produce it under licenses. Italians get their share from each sale of helicopter.

Although not confirmed, what makes T-129, as T-129, is the contractually accepted basics. It has to have a Honeywell CTS-800 engine which is manufactured under license in TEI. By another few years (2028) , the license to produce the helicopter will expire. What this expiration will mean we don’t know. But in the mean time, our T-129s have to be powered by the CTS-800 engines.

TS1400 engine is ready for serial production to fly civilian Gokbey. It already flew with one. But needs civilian certification.
To fly a T-129, the TS1400 engine needs special accessories to militarise it. As per Prof Aksit has pointed out it needs for example a new oil pump system so that when the aircraft tilts too much or makes a loop the engine is still well oiled. But TEI have not yet been advised to develop a militarised TS1400. Probably because the TS1400 can not contractually power T-129. (This issue was “insinuated” as being the case by Prof Aksit in one of his interviews)

So unless US releases the engine sale to Pakistan, the Atak will not be heading PAK way.

Everything is clear enough, i got to point, thank you for your efforts.