Speaking at the National Technologies and New Investments Collective Opening Ceremony at TAI facilities, TUSAŞ General Manager Prof. Dr. Temel Kotil announced that the Philippines will receive the first two T129 ATAK helicopters. Pointing to the date of January 8, 2021, Kotil said, “2 T129 ATAK attack helicopters will be delivered to the Philippines on Saturday.” said.
In the post made by the Ministry of National Defense of the Philippines, it was announced that the T129 Atak helicopters produced for the Philippine Air Force would be delivered in 2021. "The first two units of the six are expected to be delivered from Turkey by the end of the year," the ministry said in a statement. the previously stated target was confirmed. It is stated that the delivery, which was delayed for the second time, is due to the pandemic. Philippine Air Force (PAF) 15th Strike Squadron had sent pilots and maintenance technicians to Turkey for T129 Atak training. Philippine Ministry of Defense SözcüSU announced that the first two of the T129 ATAK helicopters are expected to be delivered by the end of December, and that a team from the Philippine Ministry of Defense went to Turkey for pre-delivery inspection.
In a statement, Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commander Lieutenant General Allen Paredes marked December of 2021 for the first convoy planned to be delivered by TAI. Lieutenant General Paredes, in his social media post, said, "Lethal... It's coming in December. T129 Attack Helicopter of the Philippine Air Force.” made statements. No other details about the delivery were given in the statement.
It is known that a total of 6 T129 ATAK helicopters produced by TAI under the contract signed with the Philippines will be exported for 269.388.862 USD. In the statements made in May 2021, it was stated that the first delivery of two units is expected to take place in September 2021. Philippine Ministry of Defense Sözcü“Based on the latest developments, we expect the first two units of T129 Attack Helicopters for the Philippine Air Force to be delivered this September,” said Dir Arsenio Andolong. According to the ministry, it was stated that following the delivery, which is said to be made in September 2021, the remaining four T129 ATAK helicopters are expected to be delivered in February 2022 (two units) and February 2023 (two units).
T129 ATAK training for Filipino personnel
Following the completion of the approvals for the sale of the T129 ATAK helicopter to the Philippines, the pilots and crews of the Philippine Air Force's 15th Attack Squadron will receive T129 ATAK helicopter training at TAI facilities in Ankara. While the related training is planned to continue between May 2021 and August 2021, the Philippine Air Force will continue to send pilots and experts to Turkey for training on T129 ATAK attack helicopter operations in the future.
Source: defenceturk
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