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The first of
five prototypes of the Agusta A129A Mangusta
(Mongoose) helicopter gunship performed its
initial official flight on September 11th 1983,
and the fifth was in the air by March 1986. The
A129A is a tandem two-seat anti-tank helicopter,
for night and day operations.
The latest
variant of the A129A Mangusta helicopter in
service with the Italian Army. The A129CBT/EES-1
International is a multi-role helicopter for
armed reconnaissance and surveillance,
high-value ground-target engagement, escort,
fire support, and air-threat suppression. It is
armed with new powerful air-to-ground and
air-to-air missiles, an off-axis cannon, and an
increased weapon payload.
In January
2002, Agusta-Westland were awarded a contract to
upgrade the first 45 to the multi-role standard.
The upgrade includes: five-blade composite main
rotor and two-blade tail rotor, Rolls-Royce Gem
1004 engines, new stronger transmission with a
torque of 1,700shp, strengthened fuselage giving
an increase in take-off weight to 4,600kg,
improved weapons systems including Otobreda 20mm
nose-mounted cannon, new FLIR (forward-looking
infrared) system, improved countermeasures suite
including EADS AN/AAR-60 missile launch detector
and new global positioning/inertial navigation
(GPS/INS) system. Deliveries are scheduled from
2004 to 2006. |
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Developing Nation: |
Italy. |
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Manufacturer/Designer: |
Agusta SpA. |
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Task: |
Night/all-weather
light attack helicopter. |
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First Flight: |
- A129EA Mangusta
September 11th 1983, MM590/ E.I.901.
- A129CBT
International January 9th 1995, MMX592/ E.I.903. |
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First Delivery: |
- A129A
Mangusta August 27th 1992.
- A129CBT
International October 2002. |
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Agusta A129A
Mangusta |
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Crew: |
2. |
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Wing Span: |
3,20 m. |
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Rotor blades: |
4. |
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Maine rotor
diameter: |
11,90 m. |
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Maine rotor disc
area: |
111,22 mē. |
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Tail rotor
diameter: |
2,50 m. |
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Tail rotor disc
area: |
3,94 mē. |
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Length overall, rotors
rotating: |
14,50 m. |
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Length fuselage: |
12,45 m. |
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Height overall: |
3,35 m. |
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Height to top of fin: |
2,65 m. |
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Engine (s): |
Two Rolls-Royce
Gem 2 Mk 1004D each rated at 825 shp. |
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Weight: |
- Empty: 2.529 Kg.
- Internal
fuel: 750 Kg.
- Max.
payload: 1.200 Kg. |
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Max. Take off weight: |
4.100 Kg. |
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Cruise Speed: |
250 km/h. |
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Max. Speed: |
315 km/h.
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Service ceiling: |
4.725 m. |
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Hovering ceiling: |
- in ground
effect 3.140 m.
- out of ground
effect 1.890 m. |
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Max. Range: |
1000 km. |
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Performance: |
Max. endurance 2
hours 30 minutes. |
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Rate of climb: |
655 m per minute. |
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Underwing
hardpoints: |
4. |
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Weapons: |
- Lucas Chin
turret mounting a 12,7 mm machine-gun.
- AIM-9
Sidewinder.
- AIM-92A
Stinger.
- AGM-114A
Hellfire.
- Hydra 70
rockets.
- MATRA Mistral
air-to-air missile.
- TOW II
air-to-ground missile.
- Hot II
air-to-ground missile.
- Sura D 81mm
rockets.
- Snora 81mm
rockets.
- Hydra 70
rockets. |
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Agusta-Westland
A129CBT/EES-1 International.* |
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Crew: |
2. |
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Wing Span: |
3,71 m. |
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Rotor blades: |
5. |
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Length overall, rotors
rotating: |
14,54 m. |
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Length fuselage: |
12,62 m. |
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Engine (s): |
Two LHTEC
CTS800-2 turbo shaft each rated at 1620 shp. |
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Weight: |
- Empty: 2.529 Kg.
- Internal
fuel: 750 Kg.
- Max.
payload: 1.800 Kg. |
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Max. Take off weight: |
5.100 Kg. |
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Cruise Speed: |
250 km/h. |
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Max. Speed: |
278 km/h. |
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Service ceiling: |
4.725 m. |
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Hovering ceiling: |
- in ground
effect 4.200 m.
- out of ground
effect 3.290 m. |
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Max. Range: |
561 km. |
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Performance: |
Max. endurance 3
hours 7 minutes. |
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Rate of climb: |
726 m per minute. |
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Radar: |
Elettronica
ELT-554 |
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Underwing
hardpoints: |
4. |
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Weapons: |
- 20 mm 3-barrel
turret-mounted
cannon.
- AIM-9
Sidewinder.
- AIM-92A
Stinger.
- AGM-114A
Hellfire.
- MATRA Mistral
air-to-air missile.
- TOW II
air-to-ground missile.
- Hot II
air-to-ground missile.
- Sura D 81mm
rockets.
- Snora 81mm
rockets.
- Hydra 70
rockets. |
*
Generally similar to the A129A Mangusta except in the
following particulars.
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Agusta A129
operators: |
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Italy. |
- 5 A-129A
prototypes
- 45 A-129A
Mangusta.
- 15
A-129CBT/EES-1 International. |
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A-129
Mangusta in action:
In 1994 three
Italian Army Agusta A129 were in Somalia for UN
operations (Restore Hope). All three were hit by
bullets, they continued there operations and
flew 800 hours. In 1998 A-129A Mangusta flew UN
operations in Angola.
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