A.109EOA-2
Contents
Description
The A109 is a rank VI Italian attack helicopter at battle-rating 9.0. It was introduced in Update "Hot Tracks".
General info
Flight performance
Describe how the helicopter behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 1,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | ||
| Stock | 256 | 239 | 5400 |
| Upgraded | ___ | ___ | |
Survivability and armour
Examine the survivability of the helicopter. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical systems.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Suspended armament
The A.109EOA-2 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- 28 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
- 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns + 6 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns + 14 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns + 20 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
- 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 14 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns + 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles
- 2 x 12.7 mm FN M3P machine guns + 4 x BGM-71C Improved TOW missiles + 6 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in a helicopter, the features of using the helicopter in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Pros and cons
'
Pros:
- Helicopter can be equipped with x4 TOW anti-tank missile launchers
- Is considerably faster than its counterparts
- Very responsive, usually able to make maneuvers with ease
Cons:
- Lacks any form of counter-measures
- Only has access to night vision devices, no thermal imaging.
- Not very survivable
History
During the 1960's Agusta was looking to break through the export market by designing the A109, mainly intended for commercial use and a civilian market, would be also later during development be tailored to the military market. It was re-designed in 1969 as there was a need for twin engine to actually compete with other contenders, this lead to the A109 to be fitted with 2 Allison 250-C14 turbo shaft engines. From December ’68 until September ’69 at least 10 separate possible configurations were worked out. Which later on (in fact 19 September 1969) lead to the first three of the prototypes to be constructed because of the necessity of carrying out flight tests. In 1971 the A109 took its first maiden flight which yielded great results for the machine. What they had found out was encouraging both in regards the reduction of vibration and handling qualities, and the overall advantage achieved by adopting an articulated four blade rotor. What was also promising would be in the area of noise abatement, for which a markedly tapered leading edge of the blade tip section had been designed. Testing was halted due to a minor accident that occurred but quickly resumed in 1972 due to the demand and interest of many countries. Then finally, in 1973 the first ever Military prototype was presented with all of its possibile configurations, which officially changed the vehicle from being centered only for civilian use, and allowed it to gain the reputation of also being centered around it being used for military purposes. Many tests were conducted on the military versions of the A109, the first set of armaments being equipped on them being Hughes Aircraft-built anti tank TOW missiles. The A109 would also be tested with a wide variety of rockets, machine guns and anything that could be installed on the machine. Mainly between 1976 and 1977 the tests that were conducted allowed 2 different military variants to emerge, them being one for light attack/close support missions and the other for shipboard operations. Once Agusta was more than happy that their helicopters were ready to be exported, many civilian versions of this aircraft started being exported around the globe, mainly in the middle east and africa. In Italian service the Italian Army obtained the A109CM as the "A109EOA" utility / scout helicopter, with "EOA" standing for "Elicottero d'Osservazione Avanzata". They mainly wanted to have access to this helicopter to put out of service the very old Agusta-Bell helicopters that at the time were also used in a sort of multi-role aspect. In Italian service, the A109 was able rockets, various ATGM's, and gun pods. The launchers the A109 carried allowed for the installation of TOW, ITOW, TOW2 and TOW2A missiles. Other armament included a 12.7mm general purpose door mounted machine gun, mounted on both sides of the helicopter, allowing the vehicle to be very versatile and potent. Older variants of the A109 usually lacked any form of countermeasures, but would be installed in future variants of the helicopter. It would be in service for a very long time, and was liked by the people who operated the vehicle. Some export variants of the A109 include things such as the A109BA, which was exported to Belgium, it had access to similar armaments, but would be equipped with x8 TOW launcher instead of the x4 one in service with Italy. Currently 32 additional countries are using the A109 either in civilian or military configurations, and till this day keeps on being in service and continues to be upgraded to not lag behind other countries' types of helicopters.
Devblog
In the early 70's, the Italian aircraft manufacturer Agusta began testing a new multi-purpose helicopter, the A.109, which was originally created for the civilian market, but immediately drew the attention of the military authorities. A.109 EOA-2 is a reconnaissance version, designed to destroy various targets including enemy armored vehicles. In addition to machine-gun pods and rockets, the helicopter can be equipped with four TOW anti-tank missile launchers.
Media
- Images
- A.109EOA-2 Devblog Images
- Videos
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the helicopter;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
| Agusta | |
|---|---|
| Utility | AB 205 A-1* · A.109EOA-2 |
| Attack | A-129 International (p) · A129CBT · AH-129D · T129** |
| Export | HKP3C |
| See Also | Bell Aircraft Corporation · TAI |
| *Licensed · **Partnership with TAI | |
| Italy helicopters | |
|---|---|
| Utility | AB 205 A-1 · A.109EOA-2 |
| Attack | A-129 International (p) · A129CBT · AH-129D · T129 |
| Hungary | ◔Mi-24D · ◔Mi-24V · ◔Mi-24P |
