TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
And Turkey hasn’t sorted the US export restrictions on the AH1Z or LHTEC L800 turbo shafts that drive the T129.
Z-10 thread
- Thread starter Red Guard
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TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Before I get called on this I meant Pakistan hasn’t gotten in a position where the US would export AH1Z. Well Turkey hasn’t gotten an alternative to the L800. The two options that weren’t Chinese and it seemed like the Pakistani forces were favoring before the Z10
I know where you are coming from but the reality is the US administration was not willing to give AH1Zs from inception (political arm twisting/keep Indians happy etc) & same applied to LHTEC L800 turboshafts engines for T129.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
I wasn’t taking a pro Pakistan position, simply stating a fact. Pakistan in this case may have simply chosen based on lack of alternatives. US PAK relations have been fluctuating back and forth between close and distant. Even without India in the mix. Pre 9/11 relations were sour. Post 9/11 they sweetened. 2011 try hey soured and hard and fast. Had Pakistan tried to buy the 15 AH1Z pre2011 they probably would have been delivered. Post 2011 especially 2018 to now no chance.
they went to Turkey as the next fall back and Turkey clearly wanted to make the deal but the T129 isn’t entirely indigenous it started as the Italian Augusta A129 international with preselected L800 engines. As such the balancing and adapting was already done. As with other Turkish military programs like the Altay tanks, engines are a weak point. They are still trying to develop an indigenous engine industrial base. Turkey tried to buy time to either develop a new engine or get a waver. But time seems to have run out.
they went to Turkey as the next fall back and Turkey clearly wanted to make the deal but the T129 isn’t entirely indigenous it started as the Italian Augusta A129 international with preselected L800 engines. As such the balancing and adapting was already done. As with other Turkish military programs like the Altay tanks, engines are a weak point. They are still trying to develop an indigenous engine industrial base. Turkey tried to buy time to either develop a new engine or get a waver. But time seems to have run out.
Or they already cancelled the Optical MAW system, but still use the old armor plates.
How does this compare to the T129 that Pakistan wanted to acquire?
Are those 'boxes under the tailboom and under the front cockpit very recent additions? I can't remember seeing them before.
The Z-10 is a helicopter that is designed for low-altitude operations. It is actually not very suitable for Pakistan. It is quite understandable why it was the last choice.
The Z-10 is bigger, heavier most probably has more range/endurance, more carrying capability for sure and more room for growth and is also further along its growth path than the T129 and has better and a wider variety of munitions and can be equipped with a mast mounted radar. It seems that the T129 only advantage is that it has a a better power to weight ratio (~460hp/1000kg at MTOW)
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