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Türkiye Advances Attack Aviation as New T129 ATAK Combat Helicopter Joins Gendarmerie Fleet.
The Turkish Gendarmerie confirmed the delivery of its 16th T129 ATAK attack helicopter on December 14, 2025, expanding its armed rotary wing fleet with aircraft J 1389 YILDIRIM. The handover underscores Türkiye’s focus on maintaining domestically produced combat aviation assets for fast-moving internal security and counterterror missions.
On December 14, 2025, the Turkish Gendarmerie confirmed the delivery of its 16th T129 ATAK attack helicopter, identified as J-1389 YILDIRIM. The handover highlights the continued operational demand for armed rotary-wing assets able to deliver rapid, precise support in complex terrain and time-sensitive security missions. It also reflects Türkiye’s wider effort to sustain critical combat aviation capabilities through domestic production and long term fleet support, as security forces prioritize availability, mission readiness, and logistical independence amid evolving operational requirements.
Türkiye’s Gendarmerie has inducted a new T129 ATAK attack helicopter, reinforcing domestically sustained rotary wing fire support for rapid, terrain focused security operations (Picture Source: Army Recognition / Turkish Gendarmerie)
The aircraft designated J-1389 YILDIRIM represents the sixteenth T129 ATAK helicopter integrated into the Gendarmerie Aviation Command’s fleet. This addition enhances operational flexibility by expanding the number of platforms available for both day and night missions, while allowing aircraft to rotate through maintenance cycles without a significant reduction in overall readiness. In practical terms, the new airframe increases crew generation and currency, strengthening the Command’s capacity to maintain continuous coverage for border security and counterterrorism operations requiring rapid armed response and aerial overwatch.
From a platform standpoint, Turkish Aerospace presents the T129 ATAK as a multirole attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter specifically engineered for demanding “hot and high” operating environments. According to official performance data published by the manufacturer at average mission weight and ISA sea level, the aircraft is credited with a maximum cruise speed of 281 km/h, a range of 537 km and an endurance of approximately three hours, for a maximum take-off weight of 5,065 kg, powered by two LHTEC CTS800-4A engines rated at 1,373 shp each. The same data set specifies a 20 mm nose-mounted turreted gun with 500 rounds and the ability to carry UMTAS or L-UMTAS guided anti-tank missiles, CİRİT laser-guided rockets, 70 mm unguided rockets and Stinger air-to-air missiles, positioning the ATAK as a highly configurable armed support platform capable of covering a broad spectrum of close air support, escort and armed reconnaissance missions rather than a single-role specialist.
Program information indicates that the ATAK contract was signed on 7 September 2007 with Turkish Aerospace as prime contractor for development, integration, production, and life-cycle support. The first Türkiye-based prototype flew on 17 August 2011, following earlier flight-test activity of the initial prototype in Italy on 28 September 2009, before the programme shifted to Türkiye-assembled aircraft and culminated in the first delivery to the Land Forces Command on 22 April 2014. In parallel, more recent ATAK deliveries for internal security users have increasingly been associated with domestic mission subsystems, notably ASELSAN’s ASELFLIR-410 EO/IR suite and an indigenous 20 mm gun system developed by Sarsılmaz Silah Sanayi and integrated in a turreted installation in cooperation with Turkish Aerospace. This configuration, already fielded on T129B helicopters operated by the General Directorate of Security, is presented as the emerging reference fit for new ATAKs entering service with Interior Ministry fleets, and illustrates a broader effort to localize and harmonize key onboard equipment over time.
Strategically, the addition of a sixteenth T129 ATAK helicopter significantly strengthens the Gendarmerie’s capacity to maintain an armed aviation presence across multiple operational areas simultaneously. It mitigates the traditional trade-offs between training, maintenance, and active deployments, ensuring sustained readiness across mission sets. The broader ATAK production initiative for the Interior Ministry, including both the Gendarmerie and the National Police, reflects a deliberate effort to develop a long-term, scalable aviation capability supported by an enduring industrial base, rather than a limited procurement program. In an evolving security landscape where rapid cross-domain coordination has become essential, continued ATAK deliveries reinforce a layered defense posture in which helicopters deliver agile, armed response and overwatch in synergy with drones, ground sensors, and maneuvering units.
The induction of J-1389 YILDIRIM represents not merely a symbolic milestone but a tangible indicator of readiness. It underscores Türkiye’s sustained commitment to strengthening its manned attack helicopter fleet through robust domestic industrial support. This deliberate, incremental expansion translates directly into increased flight hours, enhanced mission capacity, and greater operational resilience, ensuring the force remains capable and responsive even as operational tempo intensifies.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.