The TAI T929 ATAK 2 is a twin-engine, heavy attack helicopter under development by

Turkish Aerospace Industries Turkish Aerospace Inc. ( tr, Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayi A.Ş., TUSAŞ) is the center of technology in design, development, manufacturing, integration of aerospace systems, modernization and after sales support in Turkey. Located in Ankara ...

. The helicopter is designed for attack, electronic warfare and reconnaissance missions in all-weather environments in both day and night conditions. The Atak 2 will incorporate some sub-systems and components developed under T129 and the T625 Gökbey helicopter projects.

Development

In November 2018, the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSB) initiated the heavy-class Atak 2 helicopter comparable to

Boeing AH-64 Apache The Boeing AH-64 Apache () is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night visi ...

for Turkish military and potential export markets. In February 2020, the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSB) signed a contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries to develop the helicopter for an undisclosed value. The Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is developing the T929 Atak 2 helicopter using industrial experience gained through the joint T129 Attack helicopter project between Turkish Aerospace Industries and the Italian Leonardo Company. It is being developed to meet a need for a heavy attack helicopter for the

Turkish Land Forces The Turkish Land Forces ( tr, Türk Kara Kuvvetleri), or Turkish Army (Turkish: ), is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the ...

and a requirement from the

Turkish Navy The Turkish Naval Forces ( tr, ), or Turkish Navy ( tr, ) is the naval warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. The modern naval traditions and customs of the Turkish Navy can be traced back to 10 July 1920, when it was establi ...

to operate from the

TCG Anadolu ''Anadolu'' (L-400) is an amphibious assault ship of the Turkish Navy that can be configured as a V/STOL aircraft carrier. It is named after the peninsula of Anatolia ( Turkish: ''Anadolu'') which forms the majority of the land mass of Turkey. T ...

amphibious assault ship An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault. The design evolved from aircraft carriers converted for use as helicopter carriers (and, as ...

(LHD).

Design

The T929 helicopter features tandem seats, asymmetrical weapons bay, high ammunition capacity, low infrared (IR) signature, digital cockpit, ballistic protection, improved avionics, electronic warfare and countermeasure capability. The helicopter will be fitted with a nose-mounted

forward-looking infrared Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, typically used on military and civilian aircraft, use a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation. The sensors installed in forward-looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal ...

(FLIR) turret that includes target-tracking functionality. The helicopter will also feature electronic warfare systems such as infrared/ultraviolet missile-warning sensors and a tail-mounted directed-infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system to jam

heat-seeking Infrared homing is a passive weapon guidance system which uses the infrared (IR) light emission from a target to track and follow it seamlessly. Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as "heat-seekers" since infrared is radi ...

missiles. The heavy class helicopter can be tasked with air-to-ground combat, air-to-air combat, armed reconnaissance surveillance and close air support (CAS) operations.

Engines

The T929 Atak 2 will be powered by two 2,500 horsepower

turboshaft A turboshaft engine is a form of gas turbine that is optimized to produce shaftpower rather than jet thrust. In concept, turboshaft engines are very similar to turbojets, with additional turbine expansion to extract heat energy from the exhaust ...

engines. Turkish TAI has signed an agreement with Ukraine's

Motor Sich The Motor Sich Joint Stock Company ( uk, АТ «Мотор Січ») is a Ukrainian aircraft engine manufacturer headquartered in Zaporizhzhia. The company manufactures engines for airplanes and helicopters, and also industrial marine gas turbi ...

to supply fourteen TV3-117 engines for its developmental ATAK 2 heavy attack helicopter.

Specifications

Data from:

References

External links