Image source: topwar.ru
The Turkish advanced heavy attack helicopter T929 ATAK-II will receive Ukrainian aircraft engines manufactured by Motor Sich. The first power plants have already been sent to the Turkish company Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). This is reported by the Turkish press.
Ukraine has supplied Turkey with the first two TV3-117VMA-SBM1V-01t engines, which will be installed on the prototype of the T929 ATAK-II helicopter. This helicopter will participate in the tests, it should take off this year. As reported in Kiev, initially the engines were supposed to get to Turkey in September last year, but due to the fighting, their production and shipment were postponed until January 2023. In total, according to previously announced data, the Turks ordered 14 Ukrainian engines.
The fact that Ankara chose Ukrainian power plants for its newest helicopter was reported back in March 2021. The choice of the Turks was due to several factors at once, among which one can note the reliability of the engine from Motor-Sich, as well as the absence of any fears that Ukraine will stop their supply due to the sanctions imposed. In principle, the Turks had no alternative against the background of the changing geopolitical situation. Ankara has already flown with a German engine for a domestic Altay tank and did not want to repeat this story with a helicopter. In the same year, 2021, the Turks signed a contract with Motor-Sich for the supply of 14 engines.
The T929 ATAK-II heavy attack helicopter was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries as a "competitor to the American AH-64 Apache". The helicopter has not yet completed testing, and the contract for its delivery to the Turkish Air Force was signed in 2019. As stated, the weight of the newest helicopter is 11 tons, two Ukrainian-made gas turbine engines will allow it to operate in high temperatures, as well as high mountains. The armament of the ATAK-II strike consists of an aircraft cannon, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, as well as unguided 70 mm caliber missiles.
