The sanctions do not stop Turkey's desire to develop its own helicopter program. Yesterday, February 25, the portal savunmasanayist.com He reported that the company Turkish Aerospace Industries showed a model of a promising drone based on the T629 helicopter.
The characteristics of the promising unmanned helicopter are not disclosed. According to unofficial data, the drone based on the T629 will be equipped with an electric motor, and its mass will be about 7 tons. The presentation of the drone took place as part of the ceremony of handing over the T129 ATAK helicopter to the Turkish police. It is noteworthy that this is the first ATAK of the Phase-2 version. At the same time, Turkish Aerospace Industries does not disclose details on the improvements of the machine.
UAV based on the promising T629 helicopter
Image source: savunmasanayist.com
The T629 model will have to occupy a niche between the T129 ATAK and the promising ATAK 2. The development of the T629 helicopter has been carried out by Turkish Aerospace Industries since 2017. In 2019, the company defended the helicopter project and began assembling the first flight model of the machine. The technical characteristics of the new helicopter have not yet been disclosed. At the same time, it is known that its mass will be about 6 tons. For comparison, the mass of T129 is 5 tons, ATAK 2 — 10 tons.