09/30/2014. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The T129 ATAK (Attack) was developed to meet the Turkish Army requirements for an attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter. Based on the AgustaWestland A129CBT Mangusta, it was developed by TUSAS (Türk Havacilik ve Uzay Sanayii A.S., Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc., in short TAI), with AgustaWestland as its primary partner. Under the program, which started in 2007, the airframes are built by AgustaWestland at Vergiate, Italy and assembled at Kazan-Ankara, Turkey by TAI, who also installs the indigenous developed mission package, including computers, avionics, weapon systems and the helmet-mounted sight and tracking system. The power plant, consisting of two 1,360 shp LHTEC CTS 800 4A turboshaft engines, is license-built by the Engine Division of TAI.

In 2008, the Turkish Army ordered 51 aircraft and took options for 40 aircraft, while in November 2010 the Turkish Army ordered an additional nine examples to meet an urgent requirement. Designated T129A EDH (Erken Duhul Helikopteri, Early Delivery Helicopter), these nine are less advanced and had be delivered before start of deliveries of the initial order, these 51 are now designated T129B.

The first T129 (P1) was flown in Italy on September 28, 2009, however, it was lost near Verbania, Italy, on March 19, 2010. During hover tests at 1,500 ft (457 m) a loss of power to the tail rotor was encountered, test pilot Cassioli regained enough control to crash-land the aircraft. Both crew sustained minor injuries. The first of three aircraft to be assembled in Turkey (T129A P6) was flown on August 17, 2011. In April 2014, the first aircraft was handed over to the Turkish Army, by year-end TAI expects to complete delivery by of its initial batch of nine T129As, while delivery of the T129Bs is expected to begin in 2015."