A129 prototype T800

[Would you like to see this in-game?]
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters


Description: Back in 1978, the Italian company Agusta was developing a new attack helicopter after a request from the Italian army. The company initially took the A109 and tried to modify it, but it turned out that the platform was not able to offer the performance required, So Agusta started to design a completely new platform. The A129 became the first dedicated attack helicopter in Europe. The first prototype flew for the first time on September 15, 1983. All four remaining prototypes were completed between 1983 and 1986, with the last one flying for the first time in March 1986. The first order featured a total of 66 units, but later it was reduced to 60. Due to some delays, the first five units became operational only in 1990. The A129 received some upgrades and participated in a good number of war and special operations, but they are not the topic of this suggestion. This on in the specific was the second prototype, the EI902, that was modificated to carry the T800 engine.

Why it should be in the game: It will be a good addition for the Italian TT since the tt is very small and it lacks of early mangusta at a lower br.

Specifications:

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Main rotor diameter: 11.9 meters (39 feet)
Tail rotor diameter: 2.24 meters (7 feet 4 inches)
Fuselage length: 12.275 meters (40 feet 3 inches)
Footprint length: 14.29 meters (46 feet 11 inches)
Overall height: 3.35 meters (11 feet )
Empty weight: 2,520 kilograms (5,575 pounds)
MTO weight: 4,100 kilograms (9,040 pounds)
Max speed: 315 KPH (195 MPH / 180 KT)
Hover ceiling (in ground effect): 3,705 meters (12,300 feet)
Combat radius: 100 kilometers (62 MI / 54 NMI)
Endurance: 3 hours
Engines: 2x Allison-Garrett LHTEC T800

Weapons:

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1x Lucas 12.7 mm gun pod
2x FN M3P 12.7 mm machinegun pod
2x NC621 20 mm gun pod
8x TOW C/D anty tank missile
8x AGM 114B Hellfire
4x AGM-65 Maverick
8x HOT 3 Missile
4x LR25 Orione rocket launcher
76x Hydra-70 M247 Rokets
4x Medusa 81 mm roket launcher
8x Tigrat missile

Sources

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AgustaWestland A129 Mangusta & Airbus Helicopter Tiger
A129 international multi role combat helicopter, italy by PrinceFlyer - Issuu
A 129 Mangusta-International
AW-129 Mangusta - Militarypedia
https://www.army-technology.com/projects/agusta/
http://w.afbase.com/ac1/aircraft/helli/a-129.html
file:///C:/Users/gabri/Pictures/A%20129/91_12.pdf
The LHTEC T800-LHT-800 Engine Integration Into the Agusta A129 Helicopter - Vertical Flight Library & Store
LHTEC T800 Integration in the Agusta A129: A Progress Report - Vertical Flight Library & Store

Picture

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The EI902 being showed for the first time
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The EI902 after it’s first flight (note that at this time it wasn’t equipped with the T800 engine yet)

The EI902 after receiving the T800 engines

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1 Like

+1 yes pls

1 Like

Just an idea: maybe keep the prototype with TOW and HOT missiles at 9.7 BR, while the in-game variant remains with Hellfire ATGMs? This way, we keep 2 separate versions of the helicopter and we open up new line-ups for separate BRs.

Sure, why not, +1

1 Like

ATM italy doesn’t have a 9.7 lineup.

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Very interesting fact I didn’t know is that it could mount both HOT and Mistral missiles, I thought they were limited to later variants. Also it should have countermeasures since the earlier prototype could mount them

1 Like

+1 very nice version of mangusta, it must be added

1 Like