Türkiye begins ground testing of T929 ATAK-2 helicopter
Experienced T929 before starting the engine
In recent days, there have been regular reports from Turkey about new successes of the local aviation industry. In particular, it became known about the beginning of ground tests of the promising attack helicopter T929 ATAK-2 developed by TAI. In the near future, these activities will be completed, and the helicopter will be lifted into the air. They plan to spend about two years on testing, and mass production can start as early as 2025.
in the hard class
Currently, the Turkish army aviation is armed with two combat helicopters - the American AH-1 Cobra and the T129 ATAK joint Turkish-Italian development. Both vehicles belong to the light class, which limits their combat performance. In the middle of the last decade, the Turkish command came to the conclusion that it was necessary to create a heavier attack helicopter with the appropriate parameters and capabilities.
In November 2018, the Turkish Ministry of Defense launched the development of a new helicopter. By analogy with the existing project, the new program was called ATAK-2. In addition, the future helicopter was assigned the index T929, partly reminiscent of the designation of the existing machine.
The development of the new helicopter was again entrusted to the state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), which already has experience in the field of helicopter construction. The order for preliminary design was issued at the beginning of 2019. During the year, the company prepared a project and presented it to the customer. Then, in February 2020, a full-scale design contract appeared.
According to the plans of that time, no later than 2021-22, TAI was supposed to start building the first prototype helicopter. Flight tests should have started in the first months of 2023. Now we can say that the project as a whole is on schedule or slightly behind it. The available time shifts are not critical.
As with the T129 ATAK project, Turkish industry needed foreign assistance. So, in June 2021, TAI ordered turboshaft engines from the Ukrainian company Motor Sich to equip experimental and pre-production T929 helicopters. The contract provided for the manufacture and supply of 14 TV3-117 engines of one of the latest modifications with a power of 2500 hp.
As reported, the contractor had to ship the first two engines by September 2022. This indicated the possible timing of the construction and final assembly of the first prototype helicopter. The remaining 12 engines were expected until 2025 inclusive. The fulfillment of the Turkish order was delayed. It was possible to deliver the first pair of engines only in January 2023. The prospects for further cooperation are in doubt.
Home Test
To date, TAI has completed the assembly of the experimental T929, and, despite delays, has equipped the helicopter with Ukrainian-made engines received. In recent weeks, the first ground tests of the prototype and its individual systems were carried out, the results of which proceeded to further tests.
Engine without cover
On April 26, the Anadolu news agency announced the start of a new testing phase. According to him, two days earlier, an experienced ATAK-2 helicopter, while deprived of part of the casings, started the engines for the first time. The test of the power plant was carried out on a closed stand with connection to ground equipment and communications. The details of the tests carried out, such as the operating modes of the engines during the first start-up, are not specified.
"Anadolu" revealed the plans of the developers of the helicopter. In the near future, they are going to continue testing the power plant, transmission and carrier system. Based on the results of these events, the prototype will be allowed to flight tests. They plan to start this year, within the next few months.
Big plans
TAI and army command have already revealed rough plans for the foreseeable and distant future. About two years are allotted for full-scale tests of an experienced helicopter or helicopters. Serial production is planned to begin in 2025, and in the same year the first helicopters can be handed over to the customer. In the second half of the decade, production will have to reach the estimated pace and ensure the full re-equipment of army aviation.
How many T929 helicopters are required by the Turkish armed forces has not yet been reported. It is also unknown how exactly the army aviation will be re-equipped. Probably, with the help of new machines, they will first replace the old foreign AH-1s. Now there are about fifty such helicopters in service.
Newer T129 Turkish-Italian designs are likely to remain in service in the long run. They will continue to operate in parallel with the new T929. As a result, there will be two helicopters in service with similar functions, but with different characteristics, capable of complementing each other.
Perspective sample
T929 ATAK-2 from TAI is a traditional attack helicopter with the corresponding tasks. It is designed to search for and destroy various ground targets, primarily enemy armored vehicles. At the same time, one of the goals of the project was to increase the size and weight of the helicopter with a simultaneous increase in payload and combat potential.
The T929 helicopter is built according to the normal scheme and is generally similar to an enlarged version of the existing T129. Due to this, the maximum take-off weight was brought to 11,5 tons with 1,5 tons of payload. For comparison, the T129 ATAK weighs just over 5 tons and carries up to 600 kg of weapons.
The "heavy" attack helicopter is equipped with two TV3-117VMA-SBM1V turboshaft engines with a power of 2500 hp each. Through the main gearbox of Turkish design, power is distributed between the carrier system and the tail rotor. The carrier system has a traditional architecture and received five blades. The tail screw is four-bladed. According to calculations, a helicopter with such a propeller group will be able to reach speeds of up to 320 km/h with a cruising speed of 315 km/h. The practical ceiling will exceed 6 km.
Mehmet Yilmaz, chief designer of the T929 project
Like other attack helicopters, the T929 has two tandem cockpits. The pilot-operator works in the front, the rear is intended for the pilot. A “glass cockpit” and a developed avionics complex have been developed for the new machine. Almost all on-board electronics are developed by the Turkish industry.
The helicopter received an advanced weapon control system that allows it to work on ground and air targets. It includes a bow optoelectronic station with day, night and rangefinding channels, computers, control devices, etc. Compatibility will be ensured with all relevant helicopter weapons available to the Turkish army or expected in the future.
The T929 has built-in armament in the form of a mount with a 30 mm automatic cannon under the nose. Ammunition - at least 500 shells. There are six suspension units on the wing. To work on ground targets, 70-mm unguided and guided missiles of various types can be used. They plan to hit armored vehicles with guided missiles of the UMTAS family. For self-defense against enemy aircraft, the helicopter will be able to use foreign or Turkish air-to-air missiles of various types.
Responsible stage
Thus, one of the most interesting Turkish projects in the field of aviation is successfully moving forward and entering a new stage. In the near future, the first experimental helicopter T929 ATAK-2 will undergo ground tests, and then begin flights. Despite recent delays, the completion of testing and the start of mass production are still planned for 2025.
Such plans look quite bold, but it can be assumed that TAI will be able to fulfill them. She already has experience in the development, construction and development of helicopters for various purposes, incl. percussion machines. However, this experience may not be enough to create a new complex project. The tests that have begun will show how successful the new design is, and how soon the helicopter will be able to get into service.
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