Turkey-Pakistan's attack helicopter deal worth around $1.5 billion

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has signed the biggest defense deal with Turkey to acquire 30 Turkish T129 attack helicopters worth around $1.5 billion, international media reported.

The T129 ATAK is outfitted with about 76 rockets for close air support and advanced electronic war armaments and can undertake high-altitude missions with heavy artillery.

Turkey’s Defense Industry Undersecretariat, in a statement, confirmed that the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) inked the deal with the Pakistan Defense Production Ministry. The deal reportedly also includes support on logistics, spare parts, education and ammunition.

"Contract negotiations on T129 ATAK helicopters between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and the Pakistani Ministry of Defense Production were finalized."

Turkey will provide the helicopters gradually over five years, the sources also said.

The statement disclosed that Turkey has secured the largest single export in the history of the Turkish defense industry.

The deal between the two brotherly countries for the military conveyance was originally reported by aviation journalist Alan Warnes who hinted that the Turkish side was hoping for a concrete deal by late 2017 or early 2018.

In February, TAI’s General Manager Dr. Temel Kotil stated in a speech to the İstanbul Düşünce Vakfı (i.e. Istanbul Though Foundation) that TAI “will sell [T-129s] to Pakistan in the coming months.” Dr. Kotil also confirmed that Turkey acquired licenses to export the T129’s CTS800 turboshaft engine.

Pakistan examined the T129 in June 2016 and was impressed by the T129’s performance in high-altitude conditions and its ferrying range. The Army had flown the P6 from Pano Aqil, the Hindu Kush (at 14,000 ft) and between Quetta and Multan (i.e. 480 km) according to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

The PAF could also theoretically use the T129 as a CAS asset (close air support) for its combat search and rescue or special operations forces requirements. Alternatively, it could seek several units as training units at the Airpower Centre of Excellence, which is to train for counterinsurgency-related CAS.

The T129 is an upgraded variant of the AgustaWestland A129 Mangusta, which flew in 1983 and entered production that year for the Italian Army. Derived from the A129CBT, the T129 benefits from an uprated engine (i.e. LHTEC CTS800-4A), airframe modifications as well as new tail rotor and drive train.

Turkey selected the T129 in 2007 with manufacturing and third-party export rights. Aselsan, Roketsan and Havelsan developed weapons and subsystems for the T129.