T129
| This page is about the gift Italian attack helicopter T129. For other versions, see AW129 (Family). |
Contents
Description
The T129 ATAK is a premium gift rank VI Italian attack helicopter with a battle rating of 9.7 (AB/SB) and 10.7 (RB). It was introduced in Update "Drone Age".
General info
Flight performance
Outfitting the T129 Atak with general payload options (UMTAS, rockets, air-to-air missiles) does not make the helicopter any slower than its adversaries, in fact at times you'll easily be one of the fastest helicopters on the battlefield. The T129 Atak is able to do manoeuvres other helicopters can only dream about, even with full payload options. In Ground RB matches however, there should not be many times you'll have to move too much to avoid enemies. You are able to get good positions thanks to your speed, and, if done right, you will be able to dodge incoming missiles from enemy SPAA or jet aircraft.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 1,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | ||
| Stock | 270 | 261 | 6096 |
| Upgraded | 291 | 281 | |
Survivability and armour
The T129 ATAK is not very survivable. Like many helicopters at its battle rating, it is prone to exploding into many pieces after a hit from a missile. It does have some armour on the cockpit area, but in battles that won't really protect you from anything you'll face. The T129 ATAJ uses Kevlar boron carbide, a composite material which is limited only to instrument, floor and side panels around the cockpit. It does not provide the same level of protection as seen on other helicopters.
Modifications and economy
2 × 50 / 280 / 430 % 2 × 232 / 232 / 232 % | Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Armaments
Offensive armament
The T129 is armed with:
- A choice between two presets:
- 1 x 20 mm TM197B cannon, nose turret (500 rpg)
- 1 x 20 mm TM197B cannon + 90 x countermeasures
Suspended armament
The T129 can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:
- Without load
- 8 x ATAS (AIM-92) missiles
- 76 x FZ49 rockets
- 8 x L-UMTAS missiles
- 16 x CIRIT missiles
- 8 x L-UMTAS missiles + 8 x CIRIT missiles
- 8 x L-UMTAS missiles + 4 x ATAS (AIM-92) missiles
- 4 x L-UMTAS missiles + 2 x ATAS (AIM-92) missiles + 19 x FZ49 rockets + 4 x CIRIT missiles
Custom loadout options
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FZ49 rockets | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | |
| ATAS (AIM-92) missiles | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| CIRIT missiles | 2, 4 | 2, 4 | 2, 4 | 2, 4 | |
| L-UMTAS missiles | 4 | 4 |
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in a helicopter, the features of using the helicopter in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent agility
- Exclusive weapons
- Small silhouette
- Countermeasures
- Thermal imager
Cons:
- Slow missiles
- Flying at high collective causes over-revving the engine, leading the engines to die (and the helicopter to crash)
- No RWR
History
The story of the T129 "ATAK" dates back during the late stages of the Cold War with the making of the A129 Mangusta. The A129 began to be developed at the request of the Italian Army, whom saw the need to equip its air units with a dedicated attack helicopter with anti-tank capabilities. The A129 was the first dedicated attack helicopter fully designed and built in Western Europe. Its project began in 1978 and its final project was ready only in 1982. The A129 made its first official maiden flight on the 15th of September of 1983, at the Agusta company Cascina-Costa facilities. The flight lasted about 30 minutes. Agusta pilots were extremely happy with the results, and went on record and said that the helicopter had great handling. They had previously only performed shake down flights twice prior to the first official flight. It was given the name Mangusta by the Italian army and Agusta employees. This name was mainly chosen due to the fact that the A129 was a direct competitor of the Bell A-1 Cobra that at that time rivaled the Agusta project. (The mongoose is known for its ease in killing poisonous snakes).
Flash forward a couple years later with the A129 International, an upgraded variant with new technology and armaments, it would be sent to Turkey to hopefully convince their MOD to buy the machine but ultimately despite the amazing feedback they didn't buy anything. Decades later in 2007, Turkey announced on the 30th of March that Italy (more specifically Agusta) and Turkey would work together to make a design based off the A129 Mangusta which would be known as the T129 Atak. This would be the first time ever that the A129 Mangusta would be picked up by a foreign country to possibly acquire. The reason it was picked was due to the desperate need by Turkey to fill in their Army's requirements for an Attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter. One of the main requirements for the helicopter was to have a good surface ceiling, as to allow it to work better in harsher warmer climates, as at the time that's what Turkey envisioned its troops to be stationed in for the foreseeable future. The avionics and mission equipment would be supplied by Aselsan, the engine would be license produced from the American CTS800, which was already present the A129 Mangusta, the Turkish version would be called LHTEC T800-4A. One issue with the engine would be that since it was license produced, America could have vetoed any exports for the T129 if they had deemed it necessary. In terms of armament, the T129 kept the 20 mm M197 three-barrel Gatling-type rotary cannon that the A129 Mangusta originally had, the cannon could hold up to 500 rounds. It was also able to mount several different types of weapon systems such as the UMTAS ATGM, CIRIT Laser guided rockets and also several types of gun pods and air-to air missiles.
The first 3 T129 helicopter prototypes would be built inside of Italy, by Italy with the help of the Turkish companies with their avionics. The T129 P1 (CSX81723) would on 29 September 2009 take its maiden flight, where it flew at AgustaWestland's facilities in Vergiate, Italy. It would be flown in front of a Italian and Turkish crowd, and piloted by 1 Italian and 1 Turkish. The flight yielded great results and everyone there was happy with how the helicopter performed. After the successful flight of the Italian made T129, the project kept on being developed, and although some setbacks in terms of crashes, funding and delays, Turkey finally started production of the T129 in Turkey and had put it into service since 2014. Turkey had modified the aircraft in different phases, the one in game is the second phase. The Turkish army has utilized the machine against several different theatres of war, such as in Syria, Kurdistan and also took part in the first Turkish Coup attempt. For export the T129 was planned to be exported in Pakistan, but due to a veto on the engines from the USA the sale eventually went to the Philippines.
Devblog
In March 2007, the Turkish government began negotiations with AgustaWestland to jointly develop a new variant of the A129 Mangusta as part of their ATAK programme for the Turkish Air Force. The agreement, finalized and signed in September 2007, allowed Turkey to domestically produce the A129 airframe with several modifications being made to its avionics, weapon arsenal as well as other electronic equipment. As a result, Turkey was also allowed to export this domestic version to international third-party operators. This Turkish modification then received the designation ‘T129’.
Initially, an order for 51 units was placed, with an option for 40 more helicopters being contractually agreed upon. The first prototype was completed in 2009 and subsequently test flown in Italy at the AgustaWestland facilities. Subsequently, the first Turkish-produced prototype undertook its maiden flight in August 2011. The first units delivered to the Turkish military in 2013 failed to pass trials and were sent back for improvements. As a result, the first full production version of the T129 entered service in April 2014. In the following year, the T129 undertook its first combat mission as part of a counter-terrorism operation in the Turkish Siirt province. In 2018, T129s were also part of the Turkish Operation Olive Branch in northwestern Syria, during which one T129 was shot down by Kurdish anti-aircraft fire.
Since its introduction, the T129 has also been adopted by the Philippine Air Force that placed a production order for six T129s with the Turkish Ministry of Defense in 2020. In total around 70 T129s were manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries up until the present date.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
External links
| Italy helicopters | |
|---|---|
| Utility | AB 205 A-1 · A.109EOA-2 |
| Attack | A-129 International (p) · A129CBT · AH-129D · T129 |
| Hungary | ◔Mi-24D · ◔Mi-24V · ◔Mi-24P |
