The Philippine Air Force (PAF) received on Wednesday (09) the first two units of the TAI T129 Atak attack helicopter, manufactured in Turkey. PAF acquired a total of six helicopters.
The aircraft were transported to Clark Air Base by two Turkish Air Force A400 Atlases. One carried the two helicopters, while the other carried logistical equipment.
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“The PAF welcomes the arrival of two units of T129 'ATAK' helicopters aboard the (Airbus) A-400M from Turkey at 00:30 on March 09, 2022 at Clark Air Base, Mabalacat City, Pampanga”, Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Maynard Mariano told the Philippine News Agency.
The military explains that the new T129 will undergo technical inspections, test flights and acceptance before the ceremonies of introduction to service. This whole process should take a maximum of two months.
The six helicopters were acquired in 2020 for US$262.2 million under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Plan – Horizon 2. Mariano said the PAF's 15th Attack Wing will operate the T129s, which will be used in close air missions for ground troops, armed surveillance and reconnaissance.
The T129 Atak is an attack helicopter based on the A129 Mangusta from Agusta Westland (currently Leonardo Helicopters). The aircraft, which has already been offered to the Brazilian Army, incorporates modern electro-optical, electronic warfare and self-defense systems, such as radar warning sensors, laser lighting alerts and missile approach sensors.
Armed with a 197mm M20 rotary cannon (the same as the North American AH-1Z Viper), the T-129 can also employ a variety of rockets and air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, such as the Hydra 70mm, ATA Stinger, and Roketsan UMTAS.
The Philippine T129s will be the first used outside Turkey, which already has more than 108 units in operation. Pakistan had requested the purchase of 30 copies, but the purchase wasUS export restrictions, as the T129 is powered by US-made LHTEC T800 engines.
