Turkey gains US approval to build engines for T129 attack helicopter

The US government has agreed to the use of Rolls-Royce/Honeywell LHTEC CTS800s to power Turkey's AgustaWestland T129 attack helicopters, with Murat Bayar, undersecretary of the European nation's under-secretariat for defence industries, confirming that the engines will be manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries.

Ankara opted to replace the baseline AW129's original R-R Gem 1004 engines due to concerns over their performance under hot and high operating conditions in south-eastern Turkey, and integration of the CTS800 is expected to boost the T129's power output by 20%. Turkey's attack helicopter programme is budgeted at $2.7 billion for 51 aircraft, with an option to acquire a further 41.

TAI will become the only company to produce the AW129/T129, with any further airframe or spares orders placed by the Italian army to be met by the company. It will also offer the model for possible export sale to additional nations. Turkey's Aselsan will provide the T129's electronics, radar and fire-control equipment.

Source: Flight International