The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has boosted its aerial combat and ground attack capability, having completed the induction of all six Turkish Aerospace T129 ‘ATAK’ helicopters ordered in July 2020. The last of six T129s was delivered to the PAF’s 15th Strike Wing in May, this year. The T129 ATAK #1505 and #1506 helicopters were delivered to the PAF last November and were the fifth and sixth T129 ATAK helicopters acquired through negotiated (government to government) procurement with Turkey.
“These dedicated attack helicopters are expected to enhance the combat operational capability of PAF and address the capability gap identified in urban warfare,” a PAF spokesperson said. The Philippines is the first export customer to receive the T129, though Pakistan was originally destined to be the first recipient of the Turkish-built attack helicopter.
The acquisition of the T129 ATAK helicopters was part of the priority projects under Horizon 2 of the AFP Modernization Programme. The helicopters were ordered at a cost of USD286 million (approximately PHP 13.8 billion at then exchange rates) in July 2020. The PAF took delivery of its first two T129s in March, 2022, with two more helicopters delivered in December the same year. The PAF’s 15th Strike Wing is also home to Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos, AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters from Jordan, the AW-109AH helicopter and other types. The PAF’s 15th Strike Wing was organized and activated as a provisional unit on 26 November 1973, at Sangley Point, Cavite City, with a mission statement: To conduct counterinsurgency and special warfare operations.
The T129 ATAK is a twin-engine dedicated attack helicopter configured for day and night missions. It has proven its high performance in hot, high, and maritime conditions. The aircraft’s advanced observation and targeting system and precision weapons capability will provide lethal fire support to surface forces with less collateral damage. The attack helicopter’s battlefield survivability maximized by state of the art integrated Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) including advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) processor, Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Laser Warning System (LWS), Missile Warning System (MWS) and advanced self-protection using enhanced chaff and flare Countermeasures Dispensing System (CMDS), radar and IR jamming capability.
It can attain a speed of 281 kmph, has a range of 537 km and an endurance of three hours (at Average Mission Weight, ISA – Sea Level). The helicopter is heavy armed for its size with four wing stations carrying a range of weapons and also has a chin-mounted 20 mm turreted gun with 500 rounds. It can carry eight UMTAS Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) or 76 x 70 mm (2.75”) classic rockets or 48 x 70 mm (2.75”) classic rockets or 16 x 70 mm (2.75”) CIRIT guided ATGMs or eight Stinger Air-to-Air (AAM) missiles or 2 auxiliary fuel tanks carrying 294L each.
The T129 ATAK Helicopter was developed to fulfill the attack helicopter requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces, leveraging Türkiye’s specific national capabilities and has been optimized for challenging “hot and high” missions, effectively supporting the operations of the Turkish Armed Forces with its high manoeuvrability and performance in both day and night conditions.
As part of the ATAK Program, 76 T129 ATAK Helicopters will be delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command (59 definite and 17 optional), 27 to the Turkish Ministry of Interior (24 definite and 3 optional), six to the Philippines Air Force (completed) , and six to the Nigerian Air Force.
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