Azerbaijan and the Turkish T-129 ATAK Helicopter
Too good to be true? Media reports of Azerbaijan buying Turkish T-129 light attack helicopter have been denied. (TAI photo)
BAKU, Azerbaijan --- Azerbaijan will purchase 60 T-129 ATAK helicopters manufactured by Turkey, the Sabah newspaper reported on Monday.
According to the report, Azerbaijan ordered T-129 ATAK helicopters from the Turkish aerospace company Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii (TAI), and mass production will begin in this year.
Purchase of 60 helicopters, specially manufactured for Azerbaijan, will cost $3 billion.
Besides Azerbaijan, UAE, Malaysia, Pakistan and Jordan showed an interest in buying helicopters.
Turkish-made ATAK combat helicopters are part of the state program aimed at ensuring the Turkish army with arms, equipment and outfit of own production. Currently, Turkey has achieved self-sufficiency in this sector at 50 percent.
ATAK helicopters can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour, to fly in any weather conditions and poor visibility.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Credible industry sources have informed us that the above report is inaccurate, and that Azerbaijan has neither negotiated nor contracted a purchase of Turkish T-129 helicopters.
We await official reactions by the parties involved.)