Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has announced the upcoming delivery of attack helicopters to Nigeria and trainer aircraft to Chad.
The exports include six T129 choppers to Nigeria and an unspecified number of Hürkuş HYEU air-ground integration trainer aircraft to Chad, TAI General Manager Temel Kotil said in a CNN Türk report.
Earlier this year, the Nigerian Air Force became the first foreign buyer of the Hürkuş trainer.
The firm has not disclosed the cost of the orders.
In Asia, TAI is bidding to sell 18 of the attack helicopters to the Malaysian military, Defense News reported. Earlier, the Philippines became one of the first TAI customers in Asia after receiving two of six choppers under a $269 million deal last December.
T129 ATAK Chopper
Developed jointly by AgustaWestland and TAI, the T129 ATAK helicopter is based on the AW129 multi-role combat helicopter.
It has cutting-edge stealth features and weapon systems that allow for operations in complex battlefield environments and confined areas.
The T129 can carry up to 76 unguided rockets and a 20-millimeter cannon for close air support.
It can also be mounted with anti-tank, laser-guided, and Stinger air-to-air missiles, and the latest electronic warfare and electro-optical systems.
Hürkuş Trainer Aircraft
The Hürkuş trainer aircraft is a plane inspired by the combined architectures of the US-made Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, the Brazilian EMB 314 Super Tucano, and the Swiss-made Pilatus PC-21.
The plane is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney turboprop engine and a five-blade Hartzell aluminum propeller for a maximum of 1,600 horsepower, a top speed of 360 miles (580 kilometers) per hour, and an altitude of 34,700 feet (10.5 kilometers).