Specs
The A129 International multi-role combat helicopter is the latest variant of the A129 Mangusta (Mongoose) helicopter in service with the Italian Army.
I
It is manufactured by AgustaWestland, a joint venture company formed by Finmeccanica of Italy and GKN of the UK. The Mangusta has been successfully deployed with UN operations in Somalia and Angola. The A129 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. The five-bladed A129 International also has more powerful engines than the four-bladed Mangusta.
The Italian Army is equipped with 45 A129 Mangusta helicopters and has ordered 15 A129 International. The first of these, which are referred to as A129 CBT (combat configuration), was delivered to the Italian Air Force in October 2002
The A129 is able to self deploy over 1,000 km using external fuel tanks while carrying four air-to-air missiles for self protection. The helicopter is air transportable by C-130 and larger transport aircraft.
DESIGN
The structure of the helicopter is a semi-monocoque design with an aluminium alloy frame. Composite materials make up almost 50% of the fuselage weight. The airframe provides ballistic protection against 12.7 mm armour piercing rounds. The engines are armour protected. The main rotor has ballistic tolerance against 12.7 mm rounds.
COCKPIT
The pilot and gunner cockpits are in a stepped tandem configuration. Both cockpits are equipped with multifunction displays which present information from the Integrated Management System and provide a synthetic waypoint map, navigation data, weapon status, weapon selection, communications, and aircraft/flight data. The displays are equipped with multifunction keyboards.
The helicopter is equipped with an Automatic Flight Control System, which provides nap-of-the-earth flight capability and the level of stability for precise weapon aiming. A Tactical Navigation Display enhances mission management and situational awareness.
WEAPONS
The A129 International helicopter can be armed with Raytheon Stinger or MBDA (formerly Matra BAe Dynamics) Mistral air-to-air missiles. Italian Army A129 Mangustas are equipped with Stinger. Stinger missile certification was successfully completed on the Italian Army A129CBT in October 2003, using Stinger RMP Block I missiles. The helicopter has dual air-to-ground missile capability with the Lockheed Martin Hellfire or Raytheon TOW 2 missile or a mix of both, giving the gunner selective fire against low and high value targets and the capability of precise hits in urban environments. The Mangusta is fitted with the HeliTOW system for the TOW2A missile.
The A129 International also has dual rocket system capability, deploying 70 mm rockets for ammunition commonality with NATO countries and 81 mm rockets for longer range engagements. The Mangusta can carry four 81 mm rocket launchers. A 20 mm three-barrel Gatling-type turreted cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition is mounted under the nose.
COUNTERMEASURES
The helicopter's electronic warfare suite includes a Elettronica ELT-156 radar warning receiver and BAE Systems Italia RALM-101 laser warner. The helicopter countermeasures systems include Elettronica ELT-554 radar and BAE Systems IEWS AN/ALQ-144A infrared jammer and chaff and flare decoy dispensers.
OBSERVATION AND TARGETING
The helicopter's infrared night vision system (HIRNS) includes a mini FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) supplied by Honeywell and mounted on a steerable platform at the nose of the helicopter. The pilot's Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADS), by Honeywell, positions a monocle over one eye and displays the view presented by the FLIR. The system provides automatic weapon aiming which can be used by day or night.
A mast-mounted sight can be installed giving the helicopter the capability to aim and fire weapons from cover. The sight is used for target acquisition, missile tracking, laser target designation, laser tracking and laser rangefinding.
ENGINES
The A129 International helicopter has a fireproof engine compartment with two low-noise LHTEC-T800 turboshaft engines. The engines are separated and there are two separate fuel systems with crossfeed capability. The crash-resistant tanks are self-sealing and fitted with self-sealing lines and a digital fuel feed controller. The thermal signature is minimised by the installation of an infrared exhaust suppression system.
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