First AW119T delivered to the Turkish Army Aviation Command
On 25 May 2023, the T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı Resmî Instagram Hesabı (Official Instagram Account of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Defence) published a video showing the first Leonardo AW119T Koala helicopters at the Kara Havacilik Okul Komutanlığı (Army Aviation School Command), Isparta/Süleyman Demirel airport, Türkiye.
Three helicopters are visible in the video that accompanies the announcement. In August 2019, Scramble Magazine first reported that the Turkish Army Aviation Command was looking for a replacement for the Agusta-Bell AB206R Jet Ranger and on 17 February 2023 on the first Koala for the Turkish Army.
It is expected that the Koalas will be operated by the Döner Kanat Uçuş Eğitim Kurulu (Rotary Wing Flight Training Course).
Although many Turkish sources designate the helicopters as AW119T (T for Turkish, obviously), the airframes are tagged with the AW119Kx designation.
Known AW119T deliveries so far are:
These three are the first of fifteen ordered Koalas. The Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM - Savunma Sanayii Mustesarligi) placed the firm order for the delivery of AW119T in June 2022.
Credit photos: video extracts from the original video