By Priam Nepomuceno / Philippine News Agency
The first batch of six Turkish-made T129 ATAK attack helicopters will arrive in December, Philippine Air Force (PAF) commander Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes said Tuesday (Nov. 23) night.
“Deadly…coming this December. The T129 Attack Helicopter of the Philippine Air Force,” Paredes wrote in a Facebook post. He gave no other details on the arrival of the helicopters.
The six T129 attack helicopters will be acquired for a total contract price of $269,388,862 (about P12.9 billion) from Turkish Aerospace Industries through a government-to-government mode of procurement under Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
The T129 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform and is designed for advanced attack and reconnaissance missions in hot and high environments and rough geography in both day and night conditions.
Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana signed the contract for the acquisition of the Turkish attack helicopters in July last year.
The PAF is looking to acquire dedicated but affordable attack helicopters to beef up its fleet of lightly-armed helicopters, such as the MG-520 and AW-109E, which are being used for counter-terror and ground support missions. (PNA) – jlo
