• European attack helicopter • Advanced systems • Highly versatile
Although originally basod on the A109A, the Mangusta eventually emerged as an all-new design. The result is Europe’s first dedicated all-weather day/night combat helicopter – a machine that can carry a wide range of weapons, withstand hits from
12.7- mm (.50-calibre) or even 23-mm shells and operate for up to 90 minutes at a time over a battle area 100 km (60 miles) from base. The Italian army operates the Mangusta as its primary anti-tank system.
Flying in primer ►
Five prototypes wore built, of which this is tho third. This aircraft has the original nose profile and is not painted in the familiar grocn colour scheme.
▼ Anti-tank mission
For its primary anti-tank task the A129 carries eight TOW missiles in launchers on the outboard pylons, plus cither sovon – or 19-round rocket launchers on tho inboard stations.
FACTS AND FIGURES
► Plans Гог tho Mangusta were originally laid in the mid-1970s, but tho first aircraft did not fly until 11 Soptombor 1983.
► Development was further dolayed by funding problems for the HeliTOW sight
► A joint European project, known as Tonal, was to have been basod on the A129.
> A Lucas chin turret, with a 12.7-mm (.50 calibre) machine-gun. may be fitted, but it is not used by the Italian army.
>■ The British and Dutch armies bought the AH-64 in preference to tho Mangusta.
► Iran has shown interest in ordering an export version.
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A129 Mangusta
Type: ahtwgftt anti-armour hafccoptor
Powerplant: two 615 kW (625-hp > Rolls Royco Gem 2 MV 10040 turboshafts
Minimum speed: 315 vmh(195mphi Endurance: :i hours
Initial climb rale: 656 nVmm (2.1501 p m ) at sea level
Weights: empty 2529 kg (5.564 to) maximum take off 4100 kg (9.020 to)
Armament: ogM TOW or HOT or six Hettir» anti tank іпіг. зііоп on outer pylons, or two Sidewinder. Mistral. Javelin or Stinger a*-toui’ missikra In an air-to-or or escort rolo. plus two machine-gun or rocket pods on outer underwent pylons
Dimensions:
main rotoi diameter 11.90 m (39 ft)
length 14.29 m (46 ft 10 in)
height 3.35 tn (11 It.)
rotor dec aroo 11 122гтУ (1.197 *q ft)
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Abovo: A production standard Mangusta demonstrates the helicopter’s revised nose contours
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Right: Although fully armed, the second prototype did not represent the final production standard Current aircraft carry a Saab/ESCO HotiTOW sight abovo the nose.
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entities plus a new drive sysiein. .iikI tarries a three barrelled 20-mm cannon iimler the node.
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t*Tusua»r tor a modern mtoex hetoopter. the к&ичулМ rvn <i two btodod Ы rotor Mott doergrs use a rrxAbtoded urvt m coder to keep ifw попш lugrtafw to a лиіміі and to – mb* the roho loos vumornbto to grrunrt fro Tho bmad chord tfudns o« the Aum і. й rotor can withstand 127 mm 150 cakro) into. howiMir. and mav evert bo at4n in tokirete slrfcrai Vam 23-mm memunun
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Control UnkaQm tor oach of too tour mam rotor htortoe run ■гак» tho rtrweahatl, raducinp tha rotor s radar ngnatturti AJ gmvboxos and. isnocuitnd systems ore rtovgned to run •to an tout 30 rtanutan an«r tfw kau of all kucrcating «4
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Although the А’ЛІ Гмя tho lowed! cruieng speed Я id • «гцГе •nechne then Iht odw I wo Туре TN* » m Ms vutrmntCito
to onock dnoe it ii>d4e«<ts a more cMUxn target
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Flora*a 0«o twjfHf. on aritno uki o* the kriMoryo fonder* l»wm less лЛкгаЫ» to ground too It a nho means that a ongto *« a №u iMy to rSsabto both powefpiants
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Al yw/r»; л rui pmttf. tmhdi keepi gi. ee tu я m»dmum The Mvt»v B-ihcr seats n,»ve
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Armed Agt
■Д A106: First noivn
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В A109: A number of armod variants ol th* A109, many witfi TOW misste launcher*. ate to sonneo around tho world
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■ AB412 GRIFFON: Agusta has developed on
attack variant ot the AB412. which m suitubk» tor attacking «hips and tanke and for armod шмА
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В AB204; In Its nnti submarine w. irtam.’anti – ship role, the Agusta-Впй AB204AS carnos Ikttw two Mk 44 torpedoos or AS. 12 missiles.
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Agusta-Bell
