Two Turkish-made ATAK T-129 combat helicopters deployed for the first time in operation 0405156

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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Turkey
 
 
Two Turkish-made ATAK T-129 combat helicopters deployed for the first time in operation
 
The Turkish General Staff announced it has begun using the first domestically made Turkish attack helicopters in a counter-terrorism operation for the very first time. Two ATAK combat helicopters flew on April 25 to the southeastern province of Siirt to join the 3rd Commando Brigade, the General Staff said in an announcement posted on its official webpage on May 4.
     
The Turkish General Staff announced it has begun using the first domestically made Turkish attack helicopters in a counter-terrorism operation for the very first time. Two ATAK attack helicopters flew on April 25 to the southeastern province of Siirt to join the 3rd Commando Brigade, the General Staff said in an announcement posted on its official webpage on May 4.
TAI T-129 ATAK combat helicopter
     
National product ATAK helicopters have started serving in a zone of counter-terrorism operations for the first time. Starting from May 2015, these helicopters will also serve in the Sirnak, Hakkari and Van regions day and night,” the General Staff said in a statement titled “News from the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK].”

Turkey’s first locally co-manufactured assault helicopter was delivered to the TSK in June 2014, when three ATAK T-129 combat helicopters, which were co-produced by Italy’s AgustaWestland and the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI), joined the army’s inventory.

The T-129 helicopter can be armed with 8 anti-tank guided missile and air-to-air missiles. The T-129 also has dual rocket system capability, deploying 70mm rockets 4 x 19 or 4x7 for ammunition commonality with Nato countries. TheT-129 can carry four 70mm rocket launchers. A 20mm three-barrel Gatling-type turreted cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition is mounted under the nose. The T-129 can be also equipped with Gun pods armed with 12.7 mm calibre machine gun.

The deployment of assault helicopters followed a deadly clash which took place in the eastern Anatolian province of Agri in April.