Philippines preparing arrival of 1st batch of T129B ATAK attack helicopters from Turkey

 

A T129B ATAK attack helicopter in Philippine Air Force paint scheme and markings. Photo c/o Philippines DND.


The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has conducted the pre-delivery inspections on the first batch of two T129B ATAK attack helicopters, and has approved the delivery of both aircraft.

Both helicopters are expected to arrive in the Philippines within December 2021 and will be undergoing further inspections and tests in local conditions before being inducted with the Philippine Air Force.

According to Philippine defense page MaxDefense Philippines, the helicopters will be assigned with the PAF’s 18th Attack “Falcons” Squadron of the 15th Strike Wing together with a couple of existing Bell AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters.

The Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) ordered six T129B ATAK attack helicopters worth PHP13.78 billion (US$276 million) from Turkish Aerospace Industries after winning a selection process conducted by the Philippine Air Force.

The program was reportedly delayed by more than a year, said to be rooted to American export restrictions on defense materiel to Turkey stemming from its acquisition of Russian air defense systems and several other issues.

The T129B ATAK competed against the AH-64E Apache Guardian, Bell AH-1Z Viper, Mil Mi-28 Havoc, Sikorsky S-70i Armed Black Hawk, and others.

The T129B ATAK is a Turkish derivative of the AgustaWestland A129 Mangusta, with high Turkish content on subsystems, plus other improvements on overall performance.

It is equipped with an M197 20mm 3-barrel rotary cannon, and can be armed with the unguided rockets, the Cirit 70mm laser-guided rockets, the UMTAS anti-tank missile, and Stinger air-to-air missiles.

Photos shared by the Philippine Air Force showed one of the T129B helicopter with the Cirit 4-round launchers, which could be a confirmation that the munitions and launchers are included in the deal.




[1]
Philippines Department of National Defense
[2] Philippine Defense Resource
[3] Philippine News Agency

Philippines preparing arrival of 1st batch of T129B ATAK attack helicopters from Turkey Philippines preparing arrival of 1st batch of T129B ATAK attack helicopters from Turkey Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on December 14, 2021 Rating: 5

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