Serdar Demir, Head of Corporate Marketing and Communications of TUSAŞ, was the guest of the "Yıldız Technical University Defense Industry Days" event. At the event, where Defense Turk was one of the press sponsors, Serdar Demir gave information about the status of the systems developed during his speech. Demir mentioned important information about the export of T129 ATAK Helicopter.
Serdar Demir touched on the latest situation regarding the export of T129 ATAK Helicopter developed by TAI to Philippines and Pakistan. Stating that the Congress approval process in the USA is still continuing for the permits of ATAK helicopters planned to be exported to Pakistan, Serdar Demir stated that the necessary permits have been obtained for the planned export to the Philippines.
The said development was first mentioned by TUSAŞ General Manager Temel Kotil, who was a guest on CNN Türk's "What's Happening" program in April 2021. Kotil stated that the USA approved the export of ATAK helicopter to Philippines and stated that the production of T129s, which will be exported to Philippines, will be started in the following months.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) technical working group first selected the T2018 ATAK helicopter for its attack helicopter program in late 129. HE zamSince then, the sale of the platform to the Philippine Air Force has been delayed due to export restrictions of the US-made LHTEC CTS129-800A engine of the T400 ATAK.
In a statement made by the Philippines Ministry of National Defense (DND) in July 2020, it was stated that the Philippines maintained its intention to purchase the T129 ATAK platform, despite Turkey's problems in exporting helicopters. DND Public Relations Chief Arsenio Andolong said, “DND will advance with the acquisition of T129 ATAK, presented by Turkish Aerospace Industries. We will require Turkey to undertake certain guarantees before the takeover. " he spoke in the form.
Ahead in Cost and Performance
In the United States, approval for the sale of Boeing's AH-64 Apache or AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to the Philippines has been issued. In the Philippines, where they have been interested in and demanded to supply TUSAŞ product T129 ATAK helicopter, the new development from the US has raised many question marks. The US Department of State approved the possible sale of 6 AH-64E Apache and 6 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to the Government of the Philippines.
At a press conference held in Malacanang, Philippine Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana explained the reason why the Philippine Air Force abandoned the supply of US-made helicopters. Minister Lorenzana stated that the political relations between the USA and the Philippines are not problematic, but the attack helicopter T129 ATAK, offered by the Turkish company, will offer the same efficiency at a more affordable cost.
In the T129 Atak helicopter, 2 units of 1014 kW LHTEC-CTS800-400A, developed in partnership with Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, are used as the engine. It has been stated for a while that the engine, developed in partnership with the UK-based Rolls-Royce and the US-based Honeywell, has been experiencing problems in the supply for export. In this context, Turkey continues to work on TS1400 turboshaft engine under the main contractor of TEI in order to eliminate foreign dependency. At this point, it is stated by the authorities that the USA has an implicit embargo against Turkey and the emphasis on a local solution continues.
Source: defenceturk
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