The Philippine Air Force received the first overseas delivery of Turkiye’s T129 ATAK advanced attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter.
Two ATAK helicopters and an Airbus C-295 tactical transport aircraft joined the air force’s inventory with a ceremony on Wednesday at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Manila’s capital.
On March 3, helicopters were delivered to the Philippines.
At the ceremony, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippine Air Force is having a “wonderful day.”
The Philippines is restructuring its fleets, and the ATAK helicopter will aid the country’s anti-terrorism efforts, he said.
“I am overjoyed that the Philippine Air Force’s dream has come true, but we still have a long way to go before we can fully equip our homeland.”
With the defense industry cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the presidency and the Philippine Ministry of Defense, Ismail Demir, the head of Turkey’s Defense Industries Presidency (SSB), said cooperation in this field has reached the interstate level.
In 2017, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Istanbul.
“On the basis of friendship and common interest, we have created a framework to develop and strengthen defense industry cooperation,” he said.
With their proven systems and products, Turkish defense industry companies have become global players, he said.
Armoured vehicles, ammunition, pistols, and night vision binoculars have all been exported by the Turkish defense industry so far.
In 2020, the two countries will sign an agreement for six ATAK helicopters.
The first two helicopters entered the Philippine Air Force inventory after successful completion of acceptance and testing activities.
The Philippines was given a draft price offer as part of the second package of ATAK helicopters, and negotiations began.
ATAK is the most effective attack helicopter in its class, having been developed with national capabilities to meet the attack helicopter needs of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF).
The T129 ATAK is a twin-engine, next-generation attack and reconnaissance helicopter with tandem and two-seat configurations.
More than 70 ATAK units have been produced since the first delivery to the TAF in 2014.
Attack, precision engagement, armed reconnaissance, armed support, armed protection, destruction of air defense systems, and residential area combat are all successfully accomplished by ATAK, which can fly for three hours and has a take-off weight of five tons.