DESIGN OF THE A129 Mangusta (mongoose) for the then Aviazione Leggera dellEsercito (ALE) began in 1978, and the type made its maiden fl ight on September

15, 1983. A fi rst batch of 45 examples was initially acquired by the Italian Army. At fi rst the helicopter was armed with BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided) anti-tank missiles and rockets of 70 and 81mm caliber.

The Mangusta made its debut in anger between 1992 and 1994 during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, where one example launched a TOW missile to destroy an Italian vehicle that had fallen into Somali hands during the now infamous Battle of Checkpoint Pasta on July 2, 1993. Other

out-of-area operations saw the type deployed to Albania in 1997 and in Macedonia and Kosovo between 1998 and 2000.

In 1992 Agusta completed the fi rst A129 International version. This project formed the basis of the A129CBT, an ad-hoc version for the now renamed Aviazione dellEsercito (AvEs), and born out of operational experience acquired in Somalia. The CBT variant was equipped with a new fi ve-blade rotor, replacing the original four blades of the original A129, and a General Electric/Lockheed Martin TM197B three-barrel 20mm rotary cannon, produced and developed in Italy by OtoBreda, part of the Finmeccanica group. It retained the ability to carry containers for 70mm or 81mm rockets. Fifteen new A129CBTs were ordered, the fi rst of which was delivered in October 2002. This was

followed by the conversion of nearly all the original 45 A129s to the same standard.

Besides the new armament, the CBT version featured improvements to the avionics and night fl ying/navigation systems, together with new low-visibility camoufl age and insignia. The engines were the same as those in the original A129, the Rolls-Royce Gem 2 Mk1004, manufactured under license by Piaggio with the designation RR 1004.

Under the Mission Design Series presently in use, the A129CBT is now designated as the AH-129C in Italian service. There are further sub-denominations of the various versions within the service: the original A129 as used in Somalia was the block G5, other versions without the cannon were the G9A, G9B and G11, and the basic AH-129C was the G13, while the G15 is the AH-129C SIAP (Sistema

While the design of the A129 Mangusta the Italian Armys rst dedicated anti-tank combat helicopter dates back to the late 1970s, in its latest AH-129D guise it is a formidable performer that ensures the types continued relevance on the modern battle eld.

report: Massimo Baldassini and Daniele Mattiuzzo

MANGUSTA SHARPENS ITS CLAWS

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Integrato Auto Protezione integrated self-defense system), the latter featuring the introduction of laser and radar warning systems.

Delta MangustaTurning now to the latest version, the AH-129D is identifi ed by the code G19 the number 17, traditionally unlucky in Italy, having been bypassed, the designations passing directly from G15 to G19. As can be seen, only odd numbers are used; even-number designations are meanwhile used internally by AgustaWestland.

Deliveries of the AH-129D commenced recently, and at present there are fi ve examples of the new version available, all assigned to the 49 Gruppo Squadroni AvEs Capricorno. Together with the 27 Gruppo Squadroni AvEs

Mercurio fl ying the UH-205A (Agusta-Bell AB205), the 49 Gruppo Squadroni forms part of the 5 Reggimento AvEs Rigel based at Casarsa della Delizia, in Italys most north-easterly region.

Subject to the satisfactory training of aircrew, it is likely that the new Mangusta will be deployed on foreign operations towards the end of the year. The modifi cations required to produce the new confi guration involve rewiring of the airframe to support Israeli-manufactured equipment provided by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, this work being undertaken at Bergamo-Orio al Serio by the personnel of the 3 Reggimento di Sostegno Aquila.

Thanks to a phased program approved by the Italian parliament in December 2010, funding is available for the upgrade of two

thirds of the AH-129C fl eet to Delta standard. This requires the purchase of 32 (plus an option for 16) observation and target acquisition systems and a similar number of anti-tank systems and their associated munitions. The major changes in the new variant are derived from the acquisition of the new Rafael Spike-ER (Extended Range) missile, which represents a signifi cant advance over the Raytheon BGM-71E TOW 2A missile previously used by the Mangusta.

Externally, the AH-129D differs via the installation of the Toplite III turret also supplied by Rafael. Mounted on the nose and resulting in a new, rounded profi le in this area, the turret rotates around four axes, offering 360 in azimuth, and an elevation range of -85 to +35. The Toplite contains a forward-looking infra-red (FLIR) sensor, a multi-

AH-129D serial MM81393/EI-923 ies low over the training area used by the

5 Reggimento AvEs Rigel, along the Tagliamento riverbed north-east of

Casarsa. Massimo Baldassini

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spectral sensor, a laser rangefi nder, a laser designator, a laser spot detector/tracker, and a day camera.

To optimize the Mangusta for operation of the Spike, it was necessary to replace the sighting unit. This now comprises a new-generation tele-camera with optical and digital zoom, guaranteeing excellent defi nition even over long distances. The old system allowed a good defi nition to be obtained, with some diffi culty, at ranges no greater than 6-7km. With the new sighting unit, targets as far as 20km away can be viewed with excellent defi nition. There are two types of camera: one digital color camera offering fi ve-times enlargement, and a thermal camera again providing fi ve-times enlargement, but which exploits variations in temperature to enable recognition of objects or people. The resulting thermal imagery has a resolution of 640 x 680 pixels.

The new sighting system also includes three types of laser. One is an eye-safe laser, which permits the gunner (who occupies the front seat) to measure the distance between the helicopter and the target or another reference point, and which also offers GPS co-ordinates. The second type is a laser designator that enables the observed target to be handed over to another helicopter, an aircraft, or a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), all via datalink. Clearly this procedure is much faster than that used in the past, when guidance was provided by audio contact with the other helicopter or the JTAC. Finally, the laser marker is a powerful laser aimer that permits the gunner to identify a target using an optical ray. This optical ray is only visible through night vision goggles (NVGs), which allow the easy identifi cation of a target illuminated by the laser beam.

Revised weaponsThe focal point of the new AH-129D is the new Spike-ER missile, which is far more advanced than the old TOW. The practical range of the TOW was around 3.5-4km, but the Spike can reach 8km. Above all, the sight used on the Charlie had become dated, with the image defi nition considered less than ideal. Periodically the sights had to be sent to the manufacturer for maintenance, and this often resulted in the TOW having its maximum range reduced to just 2km, forcing the helicopter to approach closer to the target.

A Spike launcher on each wing can carry up to four missiles. The missile is fi tted with two tele-cameras: one optical, and one infra-red. The IR camera, like the sight, needs to be kept cool. As a result, in the middle of the launcher are two bottles of Argon gas. This ensures the missiles thermal seeker, and the sight, remain cool and function correctly.

The missile is guided via a fi ber-optic wire that the gunner can detach at any moment after launch, using two micro-charges positioned on the missile containers. These charges self-activate either at a pre-determined time after launch or when activated by the crew. An important fact is that while with the TOW it was only possible to send signals from the targeting system to the missile. With the Spike, the wires permit transmission of both data and video from the targeting system to the missile, and optical data from the missile to the helicopter. Using the Spike and the new

Top right: The revised nose turret of the AH-129D is shown to good e ect here. Massimo BaldassiniFar right: A-129A MM81407/EI-937 in the unusual two-tone green camou age worn by a few examples of the Mangusta in the early 1990s. Alessandro ZanotBelow: AH-129D serial MM81393/EI-923 is closely followed by AH-129C MM81321/EI-908. Note the di erent armament under the stub wings and the revised nose turret as well as the updated engine exhausts. Massimo Baldassini Above, top: The Observation, Targeting and Spike Weapon System (OTSWS) simulator. Massimo Baldassini Above: The new Spike-ER missile on a Delta Mangusta. Massimo Baldassini

sight, the AH-129D is now able to hit a target without actually seeing it, exploiting the camera in the missile that transmits a visual picture presented on a screen in the gunners cockpit.

The missile is of the fi re and forget type, and so, if the crew is required to disengage due to hostile fi re, and therefore cut the fi ber-optic cable, the missile will continue autonomously towards the previously acquired target.

The main difference in the cockpit when compared to the AH-129C is the multi-function color display (MFCD) screen coupled with two new joysticks. The previous visor, in practice a simple tube, created some problems, requiring the gunner to stay fi xed on what looked like a divers mask, monitoring the images being transmitting by the cameras. This could lead to a loss of spatial awareness, reducing the gunners ability to see what was going on around the helicopter. The new screen is located well away from the gunners head, and is suffi ciently large to accurately monitor all the information derived from the cameras in the helicopter and on the missile. It provides superior awareness of what is happening on the battlefi eld. In a central position are the two joysticks, which control the armament and the vision systems. Blue switches are linked to target acquisition, while red switches are for the armament. It is possible to enlarge the images passed by the optical to the thermal cameras, to utilize the missile camera, or to switch to laser operations. The old sight offered up to a maximum of 180 vision, while the new system provides almost 310; this allows the pilot to disengage from the target at certain angles while keeping it in view. These technical improvements reduce the gunners workload, and at the same time enhance his capabilities.

Training e ortA crew training center (Centro Formazione Equipaggi CFE) has been established to expedite the AH-129Ds path into front-line service. The CFE consists of three pilots and nine technical instructors qualifi ed as controllers. Reporting directly to the commander of the regiment, the unit is tasked with ensuring professional and procedural standards, covering both fl ying

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personnel from the 5 Reggimento AvEs Rigel, 7 Reggimento AvEs Vega at Rimini-Miramare, and the 3 Reggimento di Sostegno Aquila at Bergamo.

Other activities performed by the CFE focus on personnel newly assigned to the 5 Reggimento AvEs, and preparations for AH-129C/D operations in Afghanistan on behalf of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The Mangusta was deployed to Herat in Afghanistan in 2007, operating as part of Task Force Fenice, assigned to Regional Command West. In June 2014 these helicopters passed the milestone of 10,000 fl ying hours in theater.

Recently, the Casarsa base has seen the installation of an Observation, Targeting and Spike Weapon System (OTSWS) simulator,

composed of a cabin that faithfully reproduces the gunners position. It offers two scenarios: one a Middle Eastern theater, the other a typical European environment. The place of the pilot, however, is taken by a technician, who utilizes fi ve PCs to manage the mission. A variety of operational scenarios can be replicated, including night missions. This affords a saving in helicopter fl ying hours while offering a simulation that is very close to reality for the gunners.

Although the original A129 design dates back to the late 1970s, continuous updates have ensured that it remains operationally valid. It is almost certain that the G19 will not be the last iteration of this functional machine to see Italian Army service.

performance and mission management. Operational requirements for the instructors call for currency on the RH-206C (AB206C-1) and the AH-129C/D, tactical operational readiness, NVG-supported night-fl ying capability, and current operational weapons validity. For the engineers, however, the requirements are focused on familiarity with the AH-129C/D, including engine maintenance, electronics, and support systems. When NVG-supported night fl ying is involved, the engineers also require approval to work on the associated system, and the maintenance of the self-defense suite.

Since 2006 some 194 pilots and 345 engineers have qualifi ed on the helicopter, activities being conducted on behalf of

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