President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led on Friday, Dec. 9, the ceremonial blessing of two new T129 ATAK helicopters at the Presidential Security Group Compound in Malacañang Park.
The new assets are part of the six helicopters ordered by the Philippines under a multimillion-dollar contract as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Horizon 2 modernization program.
Marcos vowed that his administration will help the Philippine Air Force (PAF) achieve its goal of becoming a world-class force. He also congratulated PAF on its new acquisition of state-of-the-art helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industries.
He also expressed optimism that the development will motivate the force to continually improve its military capabilities and safeguard the nation with zeal and pride.
The PAF has already received two T129 with logistics support equipment last March. These are under a $269 million government-to-government contract with Turkey that was signed in July 2020.
The newly delivered units will supplement the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) pair of refurbished Bell AH-1S HueyCobra attack helicopters from Jordan and armed light observation and transport helicopters. – Katrina Gracia Consebido-ag
