The contracts of the Turkish Attack and Reconnaissance Helicopter (ATAK) Program have become effective and the program has officially started at the ceremony held on June 24, 2008 at the facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI).

The ATAK Program had been initiated with the aim to meet the 50 firm and 41 optional Attack/Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter requirements of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLF) by the integration of high-tech avionic equipment, hardware and software which will be developed nationally. AgustaWestland was announced as the winning bidder at the March 30, 2007 meeting of the Defense Industry Executive Committee.

Contract negotiations for the ATAK Program started in April 2007 between the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), TAI, ASELSAN and AgustaWestland. The Prime Contact, Major Subcontract Agreement and Subcontract Agreements, which had been signed on September 7, 2007, have become effective and the ATAK Program officially started at the ceremony held on June 24, 2008 at the facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI).

TAI is the Prime Contractor of the ATAK Program, whereas ASELSAN and AgustaWestland are the subcontractors of TAI. As the Prime Contractor of the ATAK Program, TAI shall be responsible to ensure that the performance of the T129 ATAK Helicopter meets the operational requirements of the Turkish Land Forces Command. The helicopters will be manufactured at Turkey's Center of Aerospace, TAI.

The T129 ATAK Helicopter shall be equipped with not only modern and proven weapon systems, but also avionic and weapon systems designed and produced indigenously. The mission computer and targeting, navigation, communication and electronic warfare systems will be developed and produced by ASELSAN, which is one of the leading defense companies of Turkey. The high performance new engine, Automatic Flight Control System and Air Vehicle Monitoring System will be integrated by AgustaWestland, one of the global leaders in rotorcraft industry.

The development phase will be realized through the cooperation of local defense and aerospace companies resulting in an "independent" product, which can be modernized in every respect during its life time of 30 years.

Beginning from the effectivity of the contract, the planned duration of the ATAK Program is 114 months, and the first T129 ATAK Helicopter will be delivered in the 60th month.

With the Collaboration Agreement, signed between TAI and AgustaWestland, let alone having the right to use and administer the intellectual property of the T129 ATAK Helicopter, TAI shall be the sole source for its work share under the ATAK program for all potential future world wide sales of the T129 ATAK Helicopter. The Collaboration Agreement also provides TAI with the right to sell and market the T129 ATAK Helicopter worldwide.