Malacañang Park, City of Manila
December 9, 2022

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. graced the ceremonial blessing of two (2) T129 Atak Helicopters at the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Compound in Malacañang Park, City of Manila.

The T129 Atak helicopters are part of the six (6) units acquired by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) from the Republic of Türkiye. This is the second batch of delivery from the Turkish Aerospace Industries as part of the Atak Helicopters Acquisition Program under the revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program.

Once operational, these air assets are expected to support the AFP’s numerous missions and enhance the PAF’s surface strike system. It will also be utilized mainly for close air support for ground troops, armed surveillance and reconnaissance.

Department of National Defense (DND) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro and PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Anthony Canlas Sr. joined the Commander-in-Chief during the ceremony.

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