Turkey's ATAK Helicopters Deployed Against Counter-Terrorism Operations

Turkey has deployed the first indigenously developed helicopters, T129 ATAK to support counter terrorism operations against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Anadolu agency reported .

Two T129 ATAK helicopters assigned to the 3rd Commando Brigade can cruise at 269 kilometers per hour (167 miles per hour) and are capable to carry Hellfire missiles and guided rockets.

The Turkish General Staff said that the helicopters arrived in Siirt on April 25. "The helicopters will serve also in Şırnak, Hakkari and Van provinces, day and night, as of May 2015," he added.

The attack and reconnaissance helicopters, based on the AgustaWestland A129CBT, were jointly developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and AgustaWestland.

The Turkish Aerospace Industries has stated in its website that its aircraft was delivered to the Turkish land forces last year. The aircraft has been developed by integrating Turkey’s high-tech avionics and weapon systems onto the combat proven AgustaWestland A129 airframe, with upgraded engines, transmission and rotor blades.

The T129 was optimized for hot and high conditions and can carry 12 Roketsan-developed UMTAS anti-tank missiles (Turkish indigenous development similar to Hellfire II) and uses the more powerful LHTEC T800 engine.