Turkey test its first attack helicopter

MILAN, Italy, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Turkish defense officials praised the maiden voyage of the first Turkish attack helicopter during its test flight at an airfield in Milan, Italy.

Dozens of politicians and military officers were on hand for the maiden voyage of the Turkish T-129 reconnaissance and attack helicopter during its first test flight at the Milan facility of its AgustaWestland producer, Turkish daily Today's Zaman reports.

"The T-129 has done maneuvers that no helicopter in its class can," Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said following the tests. "It was really good even though this is only a prototype."

Gonul lauded the fact that the computer and software controls for the T-129 were designed entirely by Turkish engineers.

The helicopter can be equipped with Hellfire or Stinger missiles as well as 70 mm rockets.

Italy's AgustaWestland and Turkey's Turkish Aerospace Industries won the 2007 contract for the co-production of 51 attack helicopters for the Turkish military with the option for 40 more.

Full-scale mass production of the T-129 is slated for 2014 with weaponization scheduled for next year.