The Agusta A129 Mangusta (Mongoose) is the first attack helicopter to be designed and produced wholly in Western Europe. The TAI T-129 is a developed version of the AW129, and is now the responsibility of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).The A129 Mangusta was developed to provide an anti-tank attack helicopter for the Italian Army. An export version, the A129 International, is a lower-cost helicopter with added firepower and upgraded avionics. The A129 Mangusta can be used in the anti-armour, armed reconnaissance, ground attack, escort, fire support and anti-aircraft roles. The A129 can also be equipped with 81 mm or 70 mm (2.75 in) unguided rockets and has a three-barrel 20 mm cannon in a turret mounted under its nose. The A129 is equipped with autonomous navigation and night vision systems in order to provide both day/night and all-weather combat capabilities.
Agusta A129 Mangusta Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 2: pilot and weapon systems officer
- Length: 12.28 m (40 ft 3 in)
- Rotor diameter: 11.90 m (39 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
- Disc area: 444.9 m² (4,789 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,530 kg (5,575 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,600 kg (10,140 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Gem 2-1004D (license built by Piaggio) turboshafts, 664 kW (890 shp) each
- Propellers: four blade rotor
Agusta A129 Mangusta Performance
- Maximum speed: 278 km/h (148 knots, 170 mph)
- Cruise speed: 229 km/h (135 knots, 155 mph)
- Range: 510 km (275 nm, 320 mi)
- Ferry range: 1,000 km (540 nm, 620 mi)
- Service ceiling: 4,725 m (15,500 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10.2 m/s (2,025 ft/min)
Agusta A129 Mangusta Armament
- Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) three-barrel gatling-type cannon (500 rounds) (only CBT version)
- Rockets: 4 pods with
- 38× 81 mm (3.19 in) unguided rockets or
- 76× 70 mm (2.75 in) unguided rockets or
- 12.7 mm machine gun-pod
- Missiles:
- 8× AGM-114 Hellfire or BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles
- 4-8× AIM-92 Stinger or Mistral anti-aircraft missiles
General characteristics
- Crew: 2: pilot and weapon systems officer
- Length: 12.62 m (41 ft 5 in)
- Rotor diameter: 11.90 m (39 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
- Disc area: 444.9 m² (4,789 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,530 kg (5,580 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 5,100 kg (11,245 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× LHTEC T800-LHT-800 turboshafts, 1,024 kW (1,373 shp) each
- Propellers: five blade rotor
Performance
- Maximum speed: 294 km/h (160 knots, 184 mph)
- Cruise speed: 269 km/h (145 knots, 167 mph)
- Range: 561 km (303 nm, 341 mi)
- Ferry range: 1,000 km (540 nm, 620 mi)
- Service ceiling: 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 13.97 m/s (2,750 ft/min)
Armament
- Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) three-barrel gatling-type cannon (500 rounds)
- Rockets: 4 pods with
- 38× 81 mm (3.19 in) unguided rockets or
- 76× 70 mm (2.75 in) unguided rockets or
- 12.7 mm machine gun-pod
- Missiles:
- 8× AGM-114 Hellfire, BGM-71 TOW, Hydra 70, Spike-ER or AIM-9 Sidewinder anti-tank missiles and Sura D/Snora.
- 4-8× AIM-92 Stinger or Mistral anti-aircraft missiles
