Turkish authorities have signed with Turkish Defense Industries and the Turkish Aerospace Indusdries group an agreement for the design and manufacture of a new heavy attack helicopter of local invoice, called ATAK 2.
Unlike its predecessor, the T-129 ATAK, a light attack helicopter very much inspired by the A129 Mangusta of the Italian Agusta, the new aircraft will have to rely as much as possible on local technologies and know-how, both to guarantee autonomy strategic as the freedom to export the new device. To do this, the new helicopter will integrate technologies from the T-129 and T625 programs, a 6-ton class multipurpose helicopter designed at the request of the Turkish Air Force, which made its first flight the year last.
After the Altay heavy tank, the T-FX combat aircraft program, and the MILGEM surface combatant program, Turkey shows every day its advantages in being able to assume the bulk of its needs in terms of Defense technologies, and to no longer depend on its Western partners in this area.
As such, the Turkish Defense Minister once again confirmed that deliveries of S-400s ordered by Turkey to Russia will begin this year. At the same time, in Moscow, it is stated that the objective is to deliver all of the new systems in 2019.
With the points of friction becoming more and more numerous and deep between Ankara and Washington, it is difficult to imagine a way out of this developing crisis. Furthermore, once freed from NATO constraints, RT Erdogan could very well undertake a rapid rapprochement not only towards Moscow, but especially towards Beijing, to become the Western pivot of the famous whole of silk, while having a free hand in the Middle East. -East, as well as to recover the Greek islands contested for years, such as Lesbos.