Turkey Orders Extra Attack Helicopters

AgustaWestland has awarded an order for nine T129 attack helicopters for 150 million euros ($208.6 million) from Turkey , the company announced Nov. 8.

The contract, which includes spare parts, calls for assembly of the helicopters by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and delivery in basic configuration by mid-2012.

Turkey previously ordered 51 T129s for the Turkish Land Forces Command, which will be delivered beginning in 2013. The new order is to fill an urgent operational requirement.
The contract, which includes spare parts, calls for assembly of the helicopters by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and delivery in basic configuration by mid-2012, the company said.

The batch of 51 helicopters will be armed with the Turkish-designed UMTAS missile. Prototypes of the missile are being assembled in Italy and Turkey, and they will start their flight test program in January.