The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will take delivery of two Turkish-made T129B ATAK attack helicopters this year.
The first batch of two from six T129B ATAK helicopters that the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) ordered from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is expected to be delivered in September.
DND spokesperson, Arsenio Andolong, confirmed that the remaining four T129B ATAK will be delivered in two batches in the next two years, in February 2022 and February 2023. The helicopters will be operated by PAF’s 15th Strike Wing based in Danilo Atienza Air Base, Sangley Point, Cavite. Philippine Air Force recently sent pilots to Turkey for training to operate the helicopters.
DND had signed a contract with TAI worth US$269.3 million for six T129B ATAK attack helicopters in October 2020. But the first delivery was pushed back due to delays in securing an export license from the US government for US-made turboshaft engines used in the helicopter.
It is also known that Turkey has offered to provide the Philippines with soft loans for acquiring between 6 to 18 additional T129B ATAK to replace PAF’s aging MD-520MG scout / light attack helicopter fleet.
T129B ATAK is a twin engine, two-seater multi-role and all-weather attack helicopter developed jointly by Turkish Aerospace Industries with AgustaWestland (now Leonardo). It is based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta attack helicopter that has been serving in Italian Army since 1983. The Turkish T128B ATAK can be armed with various air to ground / anti tank missiles such as AGM-144 Hellfire or Turkey’s own UMTAS aside from 70 mm guided / unguided rockets and short range air to air missiles for self-defence against enemy aircrafts.
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