But Will It Fly?
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4 December 2018
4 December 2018
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) selection committee has finally selected to acquire an attack helicopter from Turkey.
The variant selected was the TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK, which is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform. The T129 is being produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries under license from the Italian-British company AgustaWestland.
The controversial selection however missed the point of being an attack helicopter, its powerplant.
The United States (US) has officially denied Turkey, its NATO ally, a certificate to export the Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC) helicopter engines that powers the PAF attack helicopter, and that brings problem to the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) that manufactures the desired helicraft.
The LHTEC T800-4A turboshaft engines are produced by a joint venture of the US-based manufacturer Honeywell and Britain’s Rolls-Royce.
The Turkish company failed to obtain export license from the US Department of Defense. The license is required for the US-made parts of the engines that are meant to power the aircraft. The prohibition applies to all country exports and not merely Pakistan, also a US ally.
The sales prohibitions came after Turkey purchased Russian S-400 long-range air defense systems in defiance of Washington’s warnings.
A similar warning was made to the Philippines last month when Russia offered top-of-the-line military hardware to the country which put military officials on pause.
This early, the PAF already had difficulty securing engine parts for its Bell 412s and AW109 due to Canada's objections.
The engine embargo could potentially affect the needs of the Philippines, a US ally, as the alternative Rolls Royce engine is far inferior to that offered by the American company.
The variant selected was the TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK, which is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform. The T129 is being produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries under license from the Italian-British company AgustaWestland.
The controversial selection however missed the point of being an attack helicopter, its powerplant.
The United States (US) has officially denied Turkey, its NATO ally, a certificate to export the Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC) helicopter engines that powers the PAF attack helicopter, and that brings problem to the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) that manufactures the desired helicraft.
The LHTEC T800-4A turboshaft engines are produced by a joint venture of the US-based manufacturer Honeywell and Britain’s Rolls-Royce.
The Turkish company failed to obtain export license from the US Department of Defense. The license is required for the US-made parts of the engines that are meant to power the aircraft. The prohibition applies to all country exports and not merely Pakistan, also a US ally.
The sales prohibitions came after Turkey purchased Russian S-400 long-range air defense systems in defiance of Washington’s warnings.
A similar warning was made to the Philippines last month when Russia offered top-of-the-line military hardware to the country which put military officials on pause.
This early, the PAF already had difficulty securing engine parts for its Bell 412s and AW109 due to Canada's objections.
The engine embargo could potentially affect the needs of the Philippines, a US ally, as the alternative Rolls Royce engine is far inferior to that offered by the American company.
Does the Export License restriction apply to Turkey, and not to Pakistan only? I thought that the Export License restriction applies to the country where the export is going, rather than to the Exporting Country itself:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOBf2ZM1LxY
According to source, applies to all exports. That means Philippines included should PAF pursue it.
ReplyDeleteHoping that you will post Philippine Airlines' inaugural flight to Sapporo, Japan.
ReplyDeleteTAI has officially denied the news re: engines. It could be some move to further the AH-1W sale. Typical USA posturing.
ReplyDelete