revisiting the Turkish attack helicopter competition

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10 years 11 months

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if i remember right..

they chose an upgraded version of the 60s era Cobra over the Mongoose, Apache, and the 2 tandem seat Hokum built with Jewish assistance.

and then they suddenly dumped the Cobra for the Mongoose because its higher up in the food chain

so was there any data made available from the preliminary evaulation of the helicopters?
what made them switch from cobra to mongoose

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14 years 1 month

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I would not expect some hypothetical 1-vs-1 comparison here, I think it was a purely strategic decision, an entry ticket to worldwide aerospace market for Turkey.

Not only did TUSAS get a license for LHTEC CTS800, but more importantly TAI/ASELSAN got a chance to develop indigenous hardware (avionics, mission computers, weapons system, HMCS, self-protection suite). They are also free to integrate whatever weapons they want (Spike, Hellfire, UMTAS ATGM, CIRIT, Stinger...)

But perhaps the most interesting of all are full marketing and IP rights for the T129 platform, incl. export to third parties. What's there not to like? :)

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Msphere, also better hot and high performance.

Member for

14 years 1 month

Posts: 8,850

Msphere, also better hot and high performance.
Better than what? AH-1Z?

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12 years 7 months

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I would not expect some hypothetical 1-vs-1 comparison here, I think it was a purely strategic decision, an entry ticket to worldwide aerospace market for Turkey.

Not only did TUSAS get a license for LHTEC CTS800, but more importantly TAI/ASELSAN got a chance to develop indigenous hardware (avionics, mission computers, weapons system, HMCS, self-protection suite). They are also free to integrate whatever weapons they want (Spike, Hellfire, UMTAS ATGM, CIRIT, Stinger...)

But perhaps the most interesting of all are full marketing and IP rights for the T129 platform, incl. export to third parties. What's there not to like? :)


except there are maybe less than 10 operational in 10 years . not operationally significant. with no export and mass production. it is more a burden.

Member for

10 years 11 months

Posts: 2,040

I would not expect some hypothetical 1-vs-1 comparison here, I think it was a purely strategic decision, an entry ticket to worldwide aerospace market for Turkey.

Not only did TUSAS get a license for LHTEC CTS800, but more importantly TAI/ASELSAN got a chance to develop indigenous hardware (avionics, mission computers, weapons system, HMCS, self-protection suite). They are also free to integrate whatever weapons they want (Spike, Hellfire, UMTAS ATGM, CIRIT, Stinger...)

But perhaps the most interesting of all are full marketing and IP rights for the T129 platform, incl. export to third parties. What's there not to like? :)

those are good tech transfers and right to market. sounds like the A129-T129 relationship is like the M-346-Yak130.
however do you know if there are no compete zones established or theoreticallyc an the A-129 compete with the T129 in the same market?

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Msphere, yes I would imagine so, although I can't confirm it. If u look at the wing geometry and t/w ratio, it would seem so. Helicopters designed for hot/high conditions tend to have more rotors as it gives a better "_grip" on low density air.