Philippines inducts 2 T129 ATAK attack helicopters, 1 C-295W transport aircraft

 

One of the new T129B ATAK attack helicopter of the PAF. Photo c/o Philippines DND.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has boosted its fleet with the formal handover, blessing and induction of two new T129B ATAK attack helicopters from Turkish Aeropsace Industries (TAI) and a new C-295W transport aircraft from Airbus Defense and Space.

The ceremony was held on 06 April 2022 at Villamor Airbase in Manila, and was led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and PAF Commading General Lt. Gen. Connor Anthony Canlas, and was also attended by officials from TAI and Airbus.

The two T129B ATAK attack helicopters are the first batch out of 6 ordered by the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) under the PAF’s Attack Helicopter Acquisition Program. All 6 helicopters are expected to be completely delivered by 2024, with the PAF’s 15th Strike Wing operating the aircraft.

The Philippines is the first export market for the T129 ATAK helicopter, as an earlier order from Pakistan encountered export license problems for subsystems supplied by United States-based companies, which forced Pakistan to cancel its order.

The PAF has expressed interest to procure up to 18 more aircraft, although no further negotiations have taken place to pursue this plan.

Meanwhile, the C-295W transport aircraft the first of 3 units ordered by the DND from Airbus Defense and Space under the PAF’s Medium Lift Aircraft Acquisition Project, with the contract signed in early 2021.

The aircraft is the 5th C-295 to serve the PAF, although it is the first W variant which has improvements over the older M variant, including the winglets found on the aircraft’s wingtips, which improve fuel efficiency and flight performance.

The C-295s are currently operated by the PAF’s 220th Airlift Wing, with the PAF expecting the delivery of all 3 aircraft by late 2023.

[1] MaxDefense Philippines

[2] Philippine Defense Resource

[3] Philippine Defense Resource