Turkey to sell ATAK helicopter to Saudi Arabia

[Mosamania]

Saudi Arabia’s military asked Turkey to enter a tender to produce attack helicopters for the Saudi air force, Sabah newspaper reported.
Turkish officials are in negotiations with Saudi counterparts regarding the Turkish-made Atak T-129 helicopters, which made their first test flights last month and are expected to go into mass production in the middle of next year, the Istanbul-based newspaper said. Sabah didn’t say how it got the information.
The helicopters are produced with parts and input from Turkish companies including Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi & Ticaret AS and are generating interest from Malaysia, Jordan and Pakistan, Sabah said.
South Korea officially invited Turkey to join a tender in April next year for 36 military helicopters, the newspaper said.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-...mpete-in-saudi-helicopter-bid-sabah-says.html

 

[Zabaniyah]

Doesn't Saudi already operate Apaches? How many do they currently operate?

 

[Mosamania]

Doesn't Saudi already operate Apaches? How many do they currently operate?

24 but the 90. Billion dollar deal include 72 more apaches but I guess this is another message to the US that we won't buy from you and we have other options if you veto. It is nice they are going for turkey.

 

[Kompromat]

Finally some good news from Saudi Arabia , i guess Saudis should be supporting the military Industries of Turkey and Pakistan through selective arms procurements while developing its own.

I wont be surprised if Saudis join the new Turkish Fighter jet program. Good luck

 

[Hussein]

T129 and Apache are not at all the same category
so nothing to do with apache from us i guess

 

[Mosamania]

T129 and Apache are not at all the same category
so nothing to do with apache from us i guess

If Apaches were the heavy cavalry. Then the T129 is the Light Cavalry. Both serve "Somewhat" The same purpose.

 

[Zabaniyah]

If Apaches were the heavy cavalry. Then the T129 is the Light Cavalry. Both serve "Somewhat" The same purpose.

The likes of T-129 and Cobra are more for supporting ground troops during operations. As in close air support.

The heavier ones like Apaches and Mi-28s are more dedicated as tank hunters and hunter killer operations.

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

Actually now that i think about it its very good news, the usa is going to cry.

 

[RedBeard]

___________________________________

 

[TARIQ BN ZIYAAD]

Assalam alaikum

A good development, and much more cooperation needed between them

TARIQ

 

[RedBeard]

Assalam alaikum

A good development, and much more cooperation needed between them

TARIQ

The seed was planted, now it is growing brother insallah!

 

[Mercenary]

T-129 is more of a counter-terrorist helicopter. It is designed to take out bunkers, houses, enemy personnel, etc.

Apache Gunship is a heavy helicopter. It is designed to take out Tanks, Buildings, Radars, entire Bases, etc.

They both serve different purposes.

US operates the Cobra Gunships in the role of T-129 but they are being replaced by the Super Cobras in 2015 and won't be ready for export until they are fully deployed with the American Forces and thus a few years gap which allowed the Saudis to go for these Turkish helicopters.

 

[cabatli_53]

T-129 is more of a counter-terrorist helicopter. It is designed to take out bunkers, houses, enemy personnel, etc.

Apache Gunship is a heavy helicopter. It is designed to take out Tanks, Buildings, Radars, entire Bases, etc.

They both serve different purposes.

US operates the Cobra Gunships in the role of T-129 but they are being replaced by the Super Cobras in 2015 and won't be ready for export until they are fully deployed with the American Forces and thus a few years gap which allowed the Saudis to go for these Turkish helicopters.

It just depends on weapon selection. If you load "assymetric weapon payload" on Atak copters, It will be effective against less armoured targets and supporting troops. Along with assymetric payload, Atak can be loaded with fully AT missiles to be used effectively against heavy tanks. Atak is able to carry 12 (maybe more) UMTAS missiles on wing stations.


Umtas launchers

 

[LegionnairE]

@Mercenary you are partially right. But even the USA does not use apache with full ATGM load of 16 and 30mm chaingun isn't all better than M197 mounted on cobra series and T129. It has downsides too.

Just because apache was designed for anti-tank role doesn't mean it can't kill infantry
Just because T129 wasn't designed for anti-tank role doesn't mean it can't kill tanks

So, firepower isn't the thing we should be discussing now. To me avionics are more important.

 

[Killuminati]

The likes of T-129 and Cobra are more for supporting ground troops during operations. As in close air support.

The heavier ones like Apaches and Mi-28s are more dedicated as tank hunters and hunter killer operations.

You talk like the Apache need to fly into a tank to destroy it rofl.. As others said, its about the helicopter what he has mounted on his wings.