Becoming The First Foreign Country In The World, The Philippines Will Receive Turkey's T129 ATAK Attack Helicopter Next Month

Helicopter serang TAI T129 ATAK. (Wikimedia Commons / Steve Lynes)

JAKARTA - The Philippines will receive Turkey's first T129 Tactical Reconnaissance and Attack Helicopter (ATAK) helicopter next month, an official from the Southeast Asian country said on Wednesday.

Turkey is known to have ordered six helicopters designed and developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), which will be delivered in stages starting next December, said Philippine Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Allen Trio Paredes, citing Daily Sabah November 25.

The Philippines, which bought the six helicopters worth about US$280 million, will be the first country overseas to use the attack and reconnaissance helicopters.

The sale process gained momentum after the United States approved an export license to Turkey for the sale of helicopters, powered by American engines, to the Philippines in May.

Long earlier, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced back on December 7, 2018, the country would initially purchase six T129 helicopters.

TAI T129 ATAK attack helicopter. (Wikimedia/Commons Neuwieser)

Subsequently, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Ankara and Manila for the sale of helicopters, which was delayed due to export license barriers.

A joint venture by American company Honeywell and British company Rolls-Royce produces the engines that power the T129 helicopters, namely the LHTEC T800-4A turboshaft engines, which are installed in pairs on each helicopter.

To note, all foreign companies are required to obtain an export permit for the commercial sale of US military grade components.

To date, TAI has delivered a total of 61 T129 ATAK helicopters to the Turkish Army Command, Gendarmerie General Command and Directorate General of Security.