Hurriyet Daily News
March 7, 2022

Turkey delivers ATAK helicopter to Philippines

Turkey has delivered two ATAK helicopters, a twin-engine air vehicle developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), to the Philippines, the head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) has announced, marking the first delivery to a foreign country.

“We are happy to witness a historical moment,” SSB head İsmail Demir said during the delivery ceremony in the Col Jesus Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

An ATAK helicopter is an all-weather attack helicopter having a unit cost of roughly $50 million. The first flight testing of the helicopter’s prototype took place on Sept. 28, 2009.

“With the agreement signed with SSB and the Philippines Defense Ministry, the defense cooperation has reached a state-to-state level,” Demir said and offered to hold the Joint Defense Industries Work Group meeting in Manila.

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Daily Sabah
April 6, 2022

Philippines gets Turkish-made choppers with eyes on greater cooperation

The first Turkish-made attack helicopters were officially delivered to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday, as the two countries continue talks that could pave the way for new defense deals.

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They were delivered to the PAF in a ceremony on Wednesday marking their acceptance for service to the PAF.

Philippines had ordered six helicopters designed and developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in 2020, in a deal that is said to be worth approximately $280 million. The Philippines is the first country abroad to use the ATAK.

An Airbus C-295 tactical transport aircraft also entered the air force’s inventory at the event at Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base, attended by Philippines Defense Minister Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana, head of Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) Ismail Demir, Turkey’s Ambassador to Manila Artemiz Sümer, TAI CEO Temel Kotil and many other officials and executives.

Addressing the ceremony, Lorenzana said it was a “great day” for the Philippine Air Force.

Emphasizing that the ATAK helicopter is a first for the Philippines, Lorenzana said that they have restructured their fleet in this area.

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…SSB’s Demir said with the defense industry cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the presidency and the Ministry of Defense of the Philippines, cooperation in this field has reached the interstate level. The MoU was signed between the two countries in 2017 in Istanbul.

Demir said the two countries were in talks on several other projects, in addition to ATAK.

“Within the framework of the state-to-state agreement, we have made a fundamental move to improve our relations in the defense industry. Our various companies have some ongoing work here. As a result of those works, other products may hopefully come into play after ATAK,” Demir was cited as saying by Anadolu Agency (AA).

“We have created a framework to develop and strengthen defense industry cooperation…,” Demir added.

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TAI’s Kotil said they would complete the delivery of all six helicopters within 2022, and also noted there were additional demands from the Philippines.

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Turkish defense industry companies have so far exported multiple defense products to the Philippines, including armored vehicles, ammunition, light arms and night vision binoculars.

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Stressing the high interest, Kotil said they are still waiting for the export license from the U.S. to export the helicopters to Pakistan.

Pakistan in 2018 agreed to buy 30 T129 choppers, powered by engines made by LHTEC, a joint venture of British Rolls Royce and Honeywell, a U.S. company.

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The T129 ATAK is a next-generation, tandem, two-seat and twin-engine helicopter specifically designed for attack and reconnaissance.