ANKARA
Turkish President Abdullah Gul and visiting Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday toured production facilities at Turkey's TUSAS Aerospace Industries, or TAI, in capital Ankara.
Clad in flight jackets, Gul and King Abdullah II -- a helicopter pilot himself -- inspected T-129 ATAK, Turkey's first national attack helicopter, and they hopped in the tandem cockpit of the aircraft.
The two leaders also watched a demonstration flight of the helicopter.
T-129 ATAK is an enhanced version of the Italian Agusta Westland's A-129s.
TAI, the prime contractor, and Italy's Agusta Westland, a subcontractor, co-produce the helicopter under an agreement signed in 2007 for the purchase of 51 (plus 40 - optional) helicopters for the Turkish Land Forces.
The aircraft is equipped with avionic and weapon systems designed and produced in Turkey, and the mission computer and targeting, navigation, communication and electronic warfare systems are developed and produced by ASELSAN, a leading Turkish defense company.
TAI holds the right to use and administer the intellectual property of the T129 ATAK Helicopter and to sell it worldwide.
The first T-129 is planned to be delivered to the Turkish Land Forces in later this year.
