Rotorcraft
Philippines Government Confirms T129 Attack Helicopter Order
The Turkish Aerospace T129 will bring a needed boost to the Philippine Air Force’s counter-insurgency capabilities.
The T129 Atak is in service with the Turkish army (illustrated), gendarmerie, and now the police. It is a license-built derivative of the Agusta (Leonardo) A129 Mangusta. (Photo: Turkish Aerospace)
The T129 Atak is in service with the Turkish army (illustrated), gendarmerie, and now the police. It is a license-built derivative of the Agusta (Leonardo) A129 Mangusta. (Photo: Turkish Aerospace)

The Philippines' defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, this week confirmed to the government’s official Philippines News Agency that the country has ordered six T129B Atak attack helicopters from Turkish Aerospace, adding that deliveries are due to start in the third quarter of 2021. The budget allocated to this acquisition is stated to be PHP13.8 billion ($286 million).

Having earlier studied an armed light helicopter to augment the air force’s aging MD520MG armed helicopters, the Philippines Air Force (PAF) opted to acquire a dedicated attack helicopter in 2018. In November the selection of the T129 was announced, with an ambition to buy 8 or 10 aircraft.