TR Attack & Utility Helicopter Programs

[Sanchez]

Phase-I T-129 were also supposed to be gradually upgraded to Phase-II. To My knowledge that has not happened either.

Curious to see what the Land Forces plan is after T-929 being delayed/frozen for the time being.

I think they're still betting on T629 to come online. Phase 1 T129Bs are good enough for the role and we have plenty for COIN. I think they fall on the middle ground in the wall of importance. And as TAI have customers for the platform, there's no urgency there as well. I think they'll eventually bring all to Phase 2 standard though.

 

[dBSPL]

TAI shared this poster on social media with the following note:


"We proudly delivered Turkiye's first indigenous and national helicopter, the T625 GÖKBEY, to the Gendarmerie General Command. Displaying outstanding success in critical missions such as air ambulance, search and rescue and offshore missions, T625 GÖKBEY is now at the disposal of our gendarmerie for the security of our homeland."

Military cofiguration:
-Transport (Passenger/Cargo/VIP/Command and control) /// -Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC/MEDEVAC) /// -Reconnaissance/Surveillance /// -Search and Rescue /// -Pilot Training

Civil Configuration:
-Transport (Passenger/Cargo/VIP) /// -Offshore transportation /// -Security /// -Air ambulance /// -Search and rescue

General Specifications:
-2+12/14 seat cabin / 2+5 VIP /// -Folding landing gear /// -Modern avionics /// -Four-axis autopilot /// -Operationality with Military Mission Equipments

Technical specifications:
-Length: 15.87m /// -Main rotor diameter: 13,2m /// -Standard fuel capacity: 1020kg /// -Maximum Lifting Weight: 6050kg /// -Service ceiling 20000ft
-Cargo volume 1.1m3 /// VNE 165kts /// -Maximum range 400nm/740km (950km with external fuel tank) /// -Time in the air: 3.8 hours

 

[Huelague]

MMW Radar to my knowledge was not taken into consideration as the fuselage was already at its limits. And we haven’t heard much about Meteksans MILDAR for I believe a couple years now.

What about the top, like most helicopters has its radar.

 

[boredaf]

And we haven’t heard much about Meteksans MILDAR for I believe a couple years now.

Last time MILDAR was mentioned was this year actually, but no idea what happened after this ceremony.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1747709633282687113

 

[Sanchez]

What about the top, like most helicopters has its radar.

Putting the MWR radar there requires a complete modification of the rotor assembly, would basically create a new helicopter. Housing for the Longbow passes through the shaft.

 

[Fatman17]

 

[somegoodusername]

So, what are the helicopters that are confirmed to be produced in the near future? From my knowledge, sorted by priority:

T-925 – 10-ton utility helicopter
T-929 – 10-ton attack helicopter
T-629 – Medium-weight attack helicopter


Do we have other helicopter projects? Do we have an engine project for 10-ton helicopters?

 

[uçuyorum]

Good thing we have AH1W. The rest are likely doing training or hopefully some modernization. We had seen cirit integrated. 2 on board, 1 working on integration, 2-3 for training, 2 backup and 1-2 maintenance etc. I think its supposed to be 6 on board normally. Hope we get more stuff for it soon.

 

[dBSPL]

So, what are the helicopters that are confirmed to be produced in the near future? From my knowledge, sorted by priority:

T-925 – 10-ton utility helicopter
T-929 – 10-ton attack helicopter
T-629 – Medium-weight attack helicopter


Do we have other helicopter projects? Do we have an engine project for 10-ton helicopters?

Except for some conceptual demonstrations (one of which have created serious debates in the past as to how feasible is) and some classes that the former head of the institution mentioned but we have not even seen concepts of them, so we cannot count them. So we have 3 programs that are concrete, but as you know there is no simultaneous progress. Right now the priority is all on 625.

To summarize briefly for those who follow the forum from outside, the 629 was originally an attack helicopter with an ITAR-free approach that would use the common infrastructure with the Gökbey to a large extent, this issue was seriously at the forefront of the agenda around 2021-22 due to the blockage of helicopter exports to Pakistan, but I think it is not a priority now. More precisely, all such indigenous developments are locked on the TS-1400, it is very difficult to see concrete progress without the indigenous engine being ready.