From certain profiles one might even call it good looking. But yes overall it is not the most eye pleasing design.
Anyway, this thing's essentially designed to kill people. It doesn't need to look good.
Turkey Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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Anyway, this thing's essentially designed to kill people. It doesn't need to look good.
The pilot's finally wearing the Tulgar HMD
Kızılelma flying in formation with the Turkish Stars
It clearly have a lot of room for a bigger engine...
Yes, but it is not needed because it weighs around 50% of a similar sized manned aircraft like Gripen B/D, hence half the thrust is also sufficient (AI-322F 9300lbf vs RM12 180000lbf).
Drag is not reduced but weight vs lift is probably nice, it's why it look so nimble when flying.
Oh it packs a punch alright:
IMO the delay of the Altay tank has led to the army to commit more to other ways of defeating tanks. It already had 210 ATGM based tankdestoyers and recently added and is still adding 344 wheeled and tracked TDs, armed with OMTAS, Kornet, Cirit and UMTAS missiles. The Atak-II adds to this anti-tank capability and with the first 2 delivered to the army in 2025 and subsequent potential production rate of 24 per year, might very well mean ~60 of these in service with the Turkish military by 2030, if it follows the T129 production rate of 10-12 per year.
It'll be a great stopgap together with hundreds of upgraded Leo2's and M60's and the first batch of 250 Altays coming into service between 2025 and 2030.
IMO the delay of the Altay tank has led to the army to commit more to other ways of defeating tanks. It already had 210 ATGM based tankdestoyers and recently added and is still adding 344 wheeled and tracked TDs, armed with OMTAS, Kornet, Cirit and UMTAS missiles. The Atak-II adds to this anti-tank capability and with the first 2 delivered to the army in 2025 and subsequent potential production rate of 24 per year, might very well mean ~60 of these in service with the Turkish military by 2030, if it follows the T129 production rate of 10-12 per year.
It'll be a great stopgap together with hundreds of upgraded Leo2's and M60's and the first batch of 250 Altays coming into service between 2025 and 2030.
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Bear in mind it is currently powered by a 3800lbf engine. I've seen the thing taking off with it in less than 200m with a takeoff speed of ~125kn or even less.