AgustaWestland has been awarded a €150m ($205m) contract by the Turkish Land Forces Command for nine T129 combat helicopters and a spare parts package.

The prime contractor Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will assemble the helicopters and will ensure that the helicopters meet all the operational requirements of the command.

Turkey earlier ordered 51 T129s and the current contract increases the total order to 60.

Delivery of the helicopters in a basic configuration is scheduled in mid 2012.

Agusta is the subcontractor to TAI, while ASELSAN will be the supplier of avionics and mission equipment.