Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) revealed it has plans to develop a naval version of the ATAK-II heavy-class helicopter.
“Will there be a naval version of Atak and Gökbey for ANADOLU LHD? Do you have a calendar in this direction? ” We are currently considering the naval version of the ATAK-II,” Temel Kotil told DefenceTurk after the opening program of ITU Air and Space Vehicles Design Laboratory.
Rear Admiral Alper YENİEL (Naval Air Commander), who made a speech at the “Naval Air Projects” session held within the scope of the 10th Naval Systems Seminar, announced that 10 attack helicopters are expected to be delivered within the scope of the protocol signed with the Land Forces in March 2022. In the presentation, images of the light attack helicopter T129 ATAK and the Heavy Class Attack Helicopter ATAK-II (T-929) were included.
It is known that the force wants a heavy class solution like ATAK-II in the long term. In case of supply, AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters will be infrastructure preparation for heavy classes as an intermediate solution during the transition period. Currently, there is an approach to deploying heavy class attack helicopters on ANADOLU class and similar platforms. In addition to its heavy class ammunition capacity, it can perform tasks in more difficult sea conditions as platforms with high sea stance.
Temel Kotil had announced that the 11-ton ATAK II would start its engine and rotate its propellers in 2022. He said its engines would come from Ukraine and that a contract was signed in this context. The helicopter will be equipped with 2500 hp engines and will make its flight in 2023.
