US Issues Export Licenses to Turkey to Sell T129 Attack Helicopters to Philippines

 Turkey obtained the necessary export permits from the USA in order to export the T129 ATAK Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter to the Philippines. With the completion of the necessary approvals, a total of 12 ATAK exports will be made to the Philippines, 6 in the first batch and 6 in the second.

Philippine Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement to the press on 07 December 2018, Turkish Aviation and Space Industry Inc. (TAI) produced the T-129 ATAK Assault and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter and announced that 6-8 units would be purchased in the first place.

However, the sale in question did not come to life for a while due to awaiting export permission for US manufactured parts such as the engine in the T129 ATAK helicopter. In fact, the United States offered to sell AH-64 Apache and AH-1Z Viper helicopters to the Philippines in the meantime, but this offer was not accepted by the Philippines.

According to the information in Defense Industry; TUSAŞ Corporate Marketing and Communications Director Serdar Demir stated in his statement at the Defense's Star Shines event that the USA gave the necessary export permits for ATAK exports to the Philippines. 

A total of 12 ATAK exports will be made to the Philippines, 6 in the first batch and 6 in the second.