Hi friends:
just trying to sum-up the matter of the A.129 (now AW129) derivatives, the Joint European Helicopter (A.129 LAH Tonal, former A.129 Mk.II) was officialy announced on September 4, 1986. Members of the consortium were: Agusta (38%), Westland (38%, itself wirh 14,9% share controlled by FIAT Aviazione and 15% by Sikorsky), Fokker (19%) and CASA (9%). Were considered single-seat and two-seat configuration and twin-engine power plant with CT7-6 (General Electric, FIAT Aviazione and Alfa Romeo) and/or RTM-322 (Rolls-Royce, Turbomeca and Piaggio).
On the basis of a joint Anglo-Italian Staff Target on June 1 1987 began a two-year feasibility and cost definition study, but I think the entire program collapsed in 1990.
At that time the international press reported the following requirement by the partner nations: Italy 90, UK 125, Netherlands 50 and Spain 40.
The Tonal (the name is after an Aztec deity) was built in mock-up form (in a simplified configuration) and the artifact should be in the Volandia museum/theme park in the area of Malpensa International Airport.
The basic A.120 Mangusta (sometime Mongoose on the international market) was built witj several "lotti" (batches) and standards.
The five prototypes are the G.05 standard (probably based on the project A.129-19)
The Batch 1 are the pre-production machines (about 15), G-07 standard
The Batch 2 is formed by 15 series production G.09
The Batch 3, for 30 helicopters is the standard Scout G.11
Later on the Mangusta were upgraded to subsequent standard by I don't know all. Surely there is a G19 standard, with Rafel Toplite targeting system.
Sometime the basic Mangusta is know also as A.129A and its military designation was EC or EC-1 (for Elicottero da Combattimento).
Third prototype A.129 G.05 MM (serial number).592 was modified as the flying testbed for the A.129/T800 version, later A.129 International; the demonstrator was A.120DE, flown in October 1988. This version has two LHTEC T800 turboshafts, five-blade main rotor, nose turret with 20-mm cannon, Hellfire and Stinger missiles and advanced avionics.
The A.129 International, since September 2007 marketed as the AW129I Mongoose, is the base for the new standard A.129CBT (or AW129CBT and also A.129C) - CBT stands for Combat - for AVES (Aviazione dell'Esercito); the Italian version lacks the new turboshafts and still relies on the two Rolls-Royce.
But there are also other proposals:
A.129ASH (Advanced Scout Helicopter), built as mock-up only was an answer to the US Army requirement.
A.129LTH, then A.129ESC (Elicottero da Supporto al Combattimento), then A.129LBH (Light Battlefield Helicopter) was the version depicted on various previous post of our friends; during summer 1988 was announced a memorandum of understanding for the co-development with Argentine FAMA. Thus version was also sometime referred as A.119 and A.139.
A.129N (for Navale) Gannet, proposal for a shipborne version with anti-ship and landing support capabilities.
A.129 HOT 2 Mangusta, proposal, built in mock-up form, armed withe Euromissile HOT 2 anti-tank missiles.
A.129R: scout version (perhaps R for Ricognizione); i don't have any further information.
T129, sometime called Erdogan, is the current answer to the Turkish ATAK requirement.
By the way, the artist author of the nice impressions with the yellow-orange background is Enzo Maio.
If someone is able to tell us the complete list of the 'G' standards of the AVES Mangusta I'll be very grateful.
Nico