The Agusta A129 "Mangusta" ("Mongoose") is a modern Italian-designed and developed, two-seat, twin-engined battlefield helicopter developed specifically for the anti-armor/attack role. The aircraft was originally in development to a joint 1972 Italian Army and West German Army requirement for such an air vehicle when helicopter manufacturers Agusta of Italy and MBB (Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm) of West Germany came together to flesh out a possible solution. However, the West German participation was short-lived, leaving Agusta to carry on solo.
In the beginning, the Agusta A109 product was targeted for modification until the program developed into the late 1970s to begat an all-new design. A slimmer, stepped-tandem-seat configuration was adopted as well as engines high-mounted onto the fuselage sides. Survivability was key to such a vehicle and armoring, weaponry and automation was integral to the final product - now designated the A129.
A working prototype went airborne for the first time on September 11th, 1983 and the Italian Army originally eyed some 100 total units. With the end of the Cold War in 1991, the attack helicopter requirement was not so pressing, leading to a reduction of A129 procurement to a more manageable 60 units with the first delivered in October of 1990. This then marked the first attack helicopter to be wholly designed, developed and produced in Europe. The Agusta brand label eventually evolved to become AgustaWestland and, thusly, the name is now carried by the still-in-service A129 product.
It bears mention that the attack helicopter became a mainstay of world militaries during the Cold War decades when the threat from masses of Soviet tanks in the East was very real, particularly across European territories. As such, many armed forces dedicated funding and developmental resources for delivering a mobile weapons platform to counter this threat. The A129 Mangusta, therefore, joined other like-systems in service during this period - perhaps the most famous of these being the American Hughes AH-64 "Apache" tank killer.
Production of the first 45 units ended in 1992 and this was then followed by an improved form based on a new initiative - the A129 "International" - which numbered the final 15 examples. The new model brought about various design and systematic improvements to broaden inherent mission capabilities and performance qualities of the base Mangusta line. Its prototype went airborne for the first time on January 9th, 1995.
Armament of the Mangusta line has since grown to include a powered chin turret with the three-barreled, 20mm M197 Gatling-style cannon as standard. Other armament proved variable and displayed across two wingstubs with a pair of hardpoints afforded to each assembly. These hardpoints could accept up to 8 x BGM-71 TOW/AGM-114 "Hellfire" anti-tank missiles or 8 x "Mistral"/AIM-92 "Stinger" air-to-air missiles. Additionally, up to 4 x rocket pods (38 x 81mm OR 76 x 70mm unguided) could be carried as well as a mixed armament load to suit mission requirements (missiles and rockets for example). The hardpoints were also cleared to carry 12.7mm machine gun pods as required, increasing the platform's battlefield versatility.
In all, there have been just four major A129 marks beginning with the original A129 models. The A129 "International" mark brought about use of a five-bladed rotor assembly as well as a chin turret mounting the M197 Gatling gun. Avionics were upgraded for the better and the powerplants improved to a pair of LHTEC T800 series turboshaft engines. Its weapon systems also supported the launching of American TOW/Hellfire anti-tank missiles and short-ranged Stinger air-to-air missiles. The follow-up A129CBT ("ComBaT") therefore included many of the A129 International's realized features as well as an uprated transmission arrangement while still retaining use of the original Rolls-Royce Gem 2 series engines.
All original A129s have been modernized to the A129CBT standard. A newer, armed reconnaissance standard is the ARH-129D of which the Italian Army hopes to upgraded from twenty-four existing A129 airframes and purchase a further twenty-four helicopters in time.
The most modern offshoot of the Mangusta is now the Turkish-derived T-129 "ATAK" which is based on the Italian Army's A-129CBT model. It is intended as a local attack helicopter solution and will make use of Turkish designed avionics software and missile/mission systems. The T-129 is still under development (as of March 2014) by TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries).
There have been several proposed - yet ultimately abandoned - A129 initiatives throughout the Mangusta's service life. These included a troop-carrying armored transport gunship (similar in tactical scope to the Soviet/Russian "Hind" series), an over-water maritime assault version for interested navies, an armed scout model and a multi-role/multi-mission offering. None were furthered.
As such, the only current operators of the A129 series remain Italy and - soon to join them - Turkey. To date, combat service of Mangustas has centered around United Nations initiatives including peacekeeping/support initiatives across Afghanistan, Angola, Iraq, Macedonia and Somalia.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
Length
40.3 ft (12.28 m)
Width/Span
39.0 ft (11.90 m)
Height
11.0 ft (3.35 m)
Empty Wgt
5,578 lb (2,530 kg)
MTOW
10,141 lb (4,600 kg)
Wgt Diff
+4,564 lb (+2,070 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Leonardo A129 Mangusta production variant)
monoplane / mid-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Mid-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted along the midway point of the sides of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Leonardo A129 Mangusta production variant)
Installed:
2 x Rolls-Royce Gem 2-1004D turboshaft engines developing 890 horsepower while driving a four- or five-bladed main rotor blade and two-bladed tail rotor.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Leonardo A129 Mangusta production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD:
1 x 20mm M197 Gatling gun in powered chin turret
OPTIONAL:
Mission-specific ordnance may include any of the following:
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 4
Mounting Points
-
-
-
7
5
-
-
-
4
6
-
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
A129 Mangusta - Base Model Designation appearing in 1990.
A129 "International" - Improved model; introduction of five-bladed main rotor assembly; updated avionics and weapons suite; fitted with 2 x LHTEC T800 series turboshaft engines; M197 powered chin turret with 20mm cannon; support for American Hellfire anti-tank missiles and Stinger air-to-air missiles.
A129CBT ("ComBaT") - Improved A129 combat form with improvements of A129 International line with improved transmission though retaining Rolls-Royce turboshaft engines.
T-129 ATAK - Turkish Aerospace Industries development based on A129CBT product for Turkish Army use.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Italy; Turkey (T-129 development)
