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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DND: First batch of PAF ATAK helicopters not yet delivered

DND: First batch of PAF ATAK helicopters not yet delivered

Published Jan 10, 2022 01:58 pm

The Department of National Defense (DND) has clarified that the first two units of T129 ATAK helicopters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) from Turkey have not yet been delivered contrary to reports that surfaced on social media.

T-129 ATAK attack helicopter (File photo courtesy of and lifted from Turkish Aerospace Industry website)

“Contrary to information circulating online, as of Jan. 9, 2022, the first two units of TAI T129 ATAK helicopters have not arrived in the country,” said DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong in a statement Sunday night, Jan. 9.

The DND official released the clarification following the release of some reports about the supposed delivery of the new choppers last Saturday.

“The DND will issue updates regarding the project as soon as they become available,” Andolong noted.

The DND approved the procurement of six T129 “ATAK” helicopters with a total contract price of $269,388,862 or roughly P13 billion from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) as part of the modernization program of the PAF.

The project was sealed through a government to government (G2G) deal with the Notice of Award issued in late 2019.

The first two units were supposed to be delivered in September 2021 but it has since been delayed due to reasons not made public by the DND.

Prior to his retirement late last year, then PAF chief Allen Paredes announced that the delivery of the first two units would take place in December but it did not also materialize.

The remaining four units were originally scheduled for delivery in February 2022 and February 2023 but it appears this will also be moved.

The T120 ATAK helicopter is a “new generation, tandem two-seat, twin-engine, helicopter specifically designed for attack and reconnaissance purposes" and is "optimized for heavy weapon loads and challenging hot temperature, high altitude missions," according to the website of TAI.

Related Tags

Philippine Air Force Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) DND modernization program atak helicopter 1102022
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