Turkey's Premier Says Mass Production Of Atak Helicopters In 2013

ROME - The Turkish prime minister said on Wednesday that the mass production of ATAK helicopters in Turkey would begin in 2013.

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the first test flight of ATAK helicopters was held in Milan, Italy.

"The mass production in Turkey will begin in 2013," he told a press conference in the Italian capital of Rome.

Erdogan also said that an agreement was signed with Agusta Westland regarding the ATAK project, and defined it a significant deal for Turkey and Italy.

Turkey's first national attack helicopter, T129 ATAK successfully completed its first test flight, at Augusta Westland's facilities near Milan on September 28, 2009.

Senior Turkish and Italian officials attended the ceremony on the occasion of the test flight for combat and reconnaissance helicopter T129 ATAK
--an enhanced version of the Italian Agusta Westland's A-129s-- which will be jointly produced by Turkey and Italy.

Turkey's Tusas Aerospace Industries (TAI) -- the prime contractor -- and Italy's Agusta Westland -- a subcontractor -- will jointly produce the aircraft under an 2007 agreement signed for the purchase of 51 (plus 40 optional) helicopters for the Turkish Land Forces.

The helicopter will be equipped with avionic and weapon systems designed and produced indigenously, and the mission computer and targeting, navigation, communication and electronic warfare systems will be developed and produced by ASELSAN, a leading defense company in Turkey.

TAI will have the right to use and administer the intellectual property of the T129 ATAK Helicopter, and it will be the sole source for its work share under the ATAK program for all potential future world wide sales of the T129 ATAK Helicopter.

The program agreement also provides TAI with the right to sell and market the T129 ATAK Helicopter worldwide.

Established on 15 May 1984, TAI, is a supplier for Aermacchi, AgustaWestland, Airbus, Boeing, EADS CASA, Eurocopter, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, MDHI, Sikorsky and co-produced so far; F-16 fighters, CN-235 light transport/maritime patrol/surveillance aircraft, SF-260 trainers, Cougar AS-532 general purpose helicopters.