The acquisition is part of the Philippines’ Horizon 2 program to modernize its armed forces.

The helicopters arrived at Major Danilo Atienza Air Base in Cavite on May 17. A ceremony marking their arrival involved the head of the Philippines’ Air Combat Command, the wing commander of the 15th Strike Wing, and other unit commanders and representatives from the country’s Air Force.

The two platforms, designated No. 1505 and No. 1506, are the fifth and sixth T129 Atak helicopters procured through a $269 million government-to-government agreement with Turkey. They were meant to arrive in early 2023, Defense News previously reported.

The Philippine Air Force confirmed that the two helicopters, which initially arrived in the Philippines on Nov. 29, underwent technical inspections before their commissioning this month.

“These helicopters, known for their high performance in hot, high, and maritime conditions, are expected to significantly enhance the air force’s combat capabilities, particularly in urban warfare scenarios,” the service said in a news release.

The T129 is a twin-engine attack helicopter designed for day and night missions. It features observation and targeting systems, precision weapons capabilities, and lethal fire support technology.

The Philippine military is realigning its modernization program amid tension with China in nearby waterways. According to Philippine Army Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner, these changes aim to protect the country’s territories in the South China Sea, particularly Thitu Island, one of several disputed islands in the region.

A territorial defense strategy, released last year by the Philippines, prioritizes the protection of islands claimed by the country, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, including Thitu Island, Loaita Cay, West York Island, Flat Island and Nanshan Island.

The unmanned helicopter was first used during Turkish operations in the northern region of Iraq, Titra’s chief executive Abdulkadir Sener told reporters during a homeland security expo taking place in Ankara, Turkey, from May 21 to May 23. He said the Turkish government and other countries have requested the platform for use by naval forces.

The strategic cooperation agreement between the Turkish and French firms calls for collaboration in integrating Airbus’ DeckFinder positioning system with the ALPIN.

“Within the scope of this cooperation, we have taken the first step towards the integration of Airbus Deck Finder and the ALPIN Unmanned Helicopter System. As a result of this cooperation, the fully autonomous landing and take-off capability of all rotary wing aerial vehicles, especially ALPIN developed by TiTRA, to moving naval platforms will be made more precise and safer with Airbus Deck Finder,” Titra announced on its social media accounts.

The ALPIN should be able to land on a moving vessel within the next six months, Sener said. And following this work, there could be opportunities for the two companies to cooperate on other projects, the executive added.

The long-range drone is designed for both military and civilian use, including rescue missions. Its design is based on the crewed Italian-made Helisport CH-7 ultralight helicopter. Development of the ALPIN began in 2019 when Titra signed a deal with UAVOS, a drone specialist with offices in the U.S., Canada and Spain. Under the agreement, Titra and UAVOS planned to convert CH-7s into dual-purpose, rotary-wing unmanned aircraft. The ALPIN made its first flight in 2020.

The ALPIN is 7 meters long, 1.5 meters wide and 2.35 meters high. Its rotor diameter is 6.28 meters.

When empty, its weigh is 340 kilograms. It can carry a maximum payload of 200 kilograms, including fuel.

The unmanned helicopter can carrying multiple payloads and transmit real-time information to operators. It features a wideband satellite communication channel for remote operations, a fully redundant autopilot system, autonomous takeoff-and-landing capabilities, a remote ground control network, and an autorotation landing capability.

Airbus’ DeckFinder is a local positioning system that allows crewed and remotely piloted aerial vehicles to determine their relative position in harsh environmental conditions. It provides a 3D image of the platform’s relative position, aiding in safe landings in environments that lack reference points or visual cues. This technology is crucial for landing on small or moving helicopter decks, where even minor deviations can endanger the mission.

Poland signed a deal in May 2021 for the drones and associated equipment. The contract stipulated the delivery of four systems, each of which include six aircraft and three ground control stations.

Baykar first delivered six TB2s in October 2022 at a ceremony held at Poland’s 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Base.

On May 16, it completed the shipment of a cumulative 24 TB2s during an event held in Poland. Attendees included Poland’s deputy defense minister, the head of Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries agency, and the general manager of Baykar.

Haluk Bayraktar, who leads the company, wrote Thursday on the social media site X that the firm “delivered the last system of our Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs to Poland. Thus, for the first time in Turkey’s history, we have successfully completed the export of high-tech UCAVs to [both] a NATO and EU member country.”

Defense News has contacted Poland’s Defence Ministry for comment on how the drones will be used, and whether Ukraine will receive any.

Ukraine is currently fighting off a Russian invasion, which has heavily involved drone warfare. The TB2 made headlines when Ukrainian forces used them against Russia early on in the war.

The medium-altitude, long-endurance drone can help with reconnaissance, target identification for artillery and precision strikes. It features an advanced avionic suite with a system that allows for autonomous taxiing, takeoff, landing and cruising.

The CEO of manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries, Temel Kotil, tweeted that the first flight took 13 minutes. The aircraft registered a speed of 230 knots and reached an altitude of 8,000 feet, he added.

Turkey initiated the combat aircraft development program in December 2010. A conceptual design contract was signed between the government and the company in August 2011. A development contract followed in August 2016.

The program aims to field a fifth-generation combat aircraft to meet Turkish Air Force requirements beyond 2030s, replacing the country’s F-16 fleet. Turkey aims to become one of the few countries possessing the entire value chain for making advanced combat aircraft, covering everything from technology, infrastructure, human resources and manufacturing capabilities.

With a wingspan of about 46 feet and length of 69 feet, the Kaan is equipped with two engines. The prototype is powered by two General Electric-made F110-GE-129 turbofan engines, which are to be used in early production batches. Turkey is now working on the development of an indigenous turbofan engine for the Kaan by local company TRMotor.

The fighter program is expected to incorporate most of the characteristics of a standard fifth-generation aircraft, such as low observability, internal weapons bays, sensor fusion, advanced data links and communications systems. The aircraft are to be in service until the 2070s.

The current contract covers the initial four years of the program, which will be concluded with the completion of the preliminary design phase. Until then, further testing and technology maturation activities are on the schedule.

In December 2022, the head of TAI said the initial delivery of Kaan was scheduled for 2028. After 2029, the aim is to produce two jets per month, totally 24 jets per year.

The jet that flew Wednesday was a ground test unit. Now, the manufacturer will make five more prototypes, for which the government bought 10 F110 engines.

In a TV interview last week, the Ukrainian ambassador to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar, expressed interest in the aircraft.

The deals, finalized Jan. 20 with the defense contractor Roketsan and other domestic organizations, sets the stage for the mass production of the Akya torpedo, the Atmaca cruise missile and the Sapan air defense weapon, all made by Roketsan. These systems would help fortify the Turkish navy’s strike power.

Roketsan did not respond to Defense News’ request for contractual details.

“With its technological infrastructure, production capacity and engineering capabilities, Turkey has become a production base for critical technologies. The importance of these projects in the defense industry is better understood in the face of the threats and dangers posed by the sensitive developments in our region and the world,” Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said at the signing ceremony in Ankara.

Other attendees included the chief of naval operations, Adm. Ercüment Tatlioglu; the head of the Defense Industry Agency, Haluk Görgün; and representatives of the companies involved.

The Defense Ministry did not reply to Defense News’ request for further information.

Hello Hawk, goodbye Harpoon

Atmaca (which translates to “Hawk” in English) is a long-range, anti-ship cruise missile developed by Roketsan. It is intended to gradually replace Turkey’s existing inventory of Boeing-made Harpoon missiles.

The navy began the program for a surface-to-surface cruise missile in 2009. As the prime contractor, Roketsan started design studies in September 2012.

The first ship-launched test occurred in November 2019 using the corvette TCG Kinaliada. Following numerous tests in various scenarios, including GPS-free firing and operating in an electronic warfare-heavy environment, the missile was deemed ready for mass production. The final tests concluded in June 2021, and the missile achieved initial operational capability.

In an online meeting held in August 2023 by SAHA Istanbul, a defense expo business in Turkey, the chief executive of the local company STM said the firm signed an agreement with Roketsan to equip 11 naval platforms with Atmaca missiles.

Torpedo swap

The heavyweight torpedo Akya successfully underwent live-fire testing on the first Preveze-class submarine, TCG Preveze. The weapon’s integration into the submarine class is underway, with plans for subsequent deployment on Gür-class subs.

The Akya is expected to replace the Atlas Elektronik-made DM2A4 (SeaHake mod4) and Lockheed Martin-made MK 48 heavyweight torpedoes.

The Akya, which Roketsan designed to engage other submarines and surface targets, can operate autonomously, or a user can control the weapon via a fiber-optic cable. It features an active/passive sonar homing head, and uses wake-steering technology specifically tailored to engage surface targets.

Sapan enters the picture

The Sapan air defense missile is intended to replace the Evolved Seasparrow Missile, a surface-to-air weapon made by RTX, formerly known as Raytheon Technologies.

Derived from Roketsan’s Hisar RF surface-to-air missile, the Sapan entered service with the navy for the frigate TCG Istanbul. While Sapan is said to boast a range exceeding 35 kilometers (22 miles), the company has not disclosed specific specifications.

Roketsan is currently integrating the Siper air defense system with the Midlas vertical launching system on I-class frigates. This is expected to enhance the navy’s ability to engage aerial targets at ranges exceeding 100 kilometers.

The memorandum of understanding, signed during the Taipei Aerospace Defense Technology Exhibition this month, involves the transfer of technology to the Asia-Pacific region and other geographic areas, according to a GEOSAT news release.

“Based on this, we will further develop and produce a new generation product, 160 JACKAL drones,” the company’s statement said. “UK-based Flyby Technology has agreed to provide payload solutions, testing and production planning for the new 160 JACKALs product and other Flyby authorized products.”

Murat Islioglu, general manager of Turkish business Fly BVLOS Technology, told Defense News the Jackal drone was originally made for civilian use.

“Following our agreement with our U.K. partner Flyby Technology, Jackal is equipped with Thales LMM [Lightweight Multirole Missiles] and has performed the first test-firing with great success. This was a clear demonstration of the multipurpose capability of Jackal,” Islioglu said.

Research and development for the Jackal began in early 2022, Islioglu added, and was designed and manufactured by Turkish engineers. In April 2022, the company signed an agreement with Flyby Technologies to export five drones for $1.25 million. The drone carried out tests with the LMM weapon in October 2022.

“Just a few months after the export agreement with the British company, we signed an agreement with Taiwan UAV Technology Center to exchange know-how and open an office in Taiwan. This agreement paved the way for future collaborations,” the manager said.

He added that Flyby Technologies has purchased the intellectual property rights for the Jackal in July 2023. “Flyby Technology has full rights to manufacture Jackal in the U.K. and export it. However, we made some reservations regarding the export of Jackal in the agreement,” he noted, a possible reference to customers the Turkish government may not want to receive the drone. “But we still provide technical assistance for our partner.”

The details of production, assembly location and timeline will be confirmed in a separate agreement, Islioglu said.

The Jackal is a remotely piloted air system able to land and take off vertically. It has a payload of maximum 15 kilograms (33 pounds) and has an operating range of 130 kilometers (81 miles). The drone can reach a cruise speed of about 108 kph (67 mph) and can reach a top speed of 160 kph (99 mph). It can operate as high as 4,000 meters, and the pilot can control it via satellite communications technology.

Power for the two pairs of rotors and electric fans currently comes from batteries, but production versions are to use a turbogenerator. The maximum takeoff weight is 105 kilograms, which is to increase to 155 kilograms or more with the new propulsion system.

The Jackal has the potential to conduct airstrikes, provide air support, attack helicopters in flight, target tanks, perform logistics missions, and deny the use of runways and roads. Because it is a plug-and-play system, users can integrate other equipment and technologies into the drone.

The latest iteration, dubbed Sea Breeze 2023-3, took place in the Black Sea, bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia. The entire exercise is split into three parts.

The third event, which ran Sept. 11-15, saw the United States, Bulgaria, France, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom come together for drills. The U.S. and Romanian navies co-hosted the exercise.

“The exercise, now in its 22nd iteration, has been held annually since 1997, except for five separate years in which operational commitments or world events prevented the execution of the exercise,” a U.S. Navy news release noted.

Due to the regulations of the Montreux Convention, non-riparian participants could not send naval vessels. Under the Montreux Convention, Turkey manages the movement of commercial and military ships in and out of the Bosporus and Dardanelles. The country has carefully implemented the agreement since 1936, which is a critical component of Black Sea security and stability, for more than seven decades. While the convention governs the transit regime across the straits, the most important aspect is defining the principals of military ships transiting the straits and deploying to the Black Sea.

“It is very important that the Sea Breeze exercise, which could not take place last year, was held this year at a time when war was ongoing in the region and the main themes of the exercise were freedom of navigation and the de-mining of the seas,” Yörük Işık, an independent Turkish open-source intelligence and naval analyst, told Defense News. “There is a message to Russia here.”

Vice Adm. Ioan Georgescu of the Romanian Naval Forces led the drills. The service brought the most vessels to the exercise with its Musca-class mine countermeasure ship Sublocotenent Alexandru Axente, high-speed diving support ship Venus, Brutar II-class armored boat Posada, three amphibious armored personnel carriers, and several attack boats.

“The main objectives of Sea Breeze 2023 are to enhance interoperability and increase the level of training amongst the participating forces, focusing on mine countermeasures with support from participating nations’ diving and Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) teams and a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft,” Romanian Navy Capt. Adrian Dinca, chief of staff of the Romanian maritime component command, said in the U.S. Navy release.

Indeed, during the second part of Sea Breeze, held Sept. 5-6 in Constanta, the U.S. Navy deployed the explosive ordnance disposal and mine countermeasures divisions of Task Force 68, among other personnel, and a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. This second part involved a fleet commanders conference focused on the current maritime situation in the Black Sea.

“The expansion of the Sea Breeze exercise into a three-part serial demonstrates our ability to train together throughout the European theater, in a multitude of environments, to ensure we are ready and prepared for any challenges we may face as we continue to strive for a secure maritime environment,” Task Force 68 Commodore Capt. Geoffrey Townsend said in the news release.

The Bulgarian Defence Ministry said its participation in the exercise included a Remus 100 unmanned underwater vehicle and associated personnel.

Turkey only sent staff personnel to the exercise, according to sources with the Turkish Navy, who spoke to Defense News on the condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak to the press.

France, the U.K. and Ukraine did not reply to requests for information about their participation.

Notably, the exercise took place as Ukraine declared it regained control over oil rigs in the vicinity of where the exercise took place, Işık said.

Also during the drills, Ukraine attacked the Russian base at Sevastopol in Crimea with cruise missiles. Russia has controlled the territory since it annexed it in 2014 — a move largely unrecognized among the international community.

According to the British Defence Minstry, the Sept. 13 attack “almost certainly” functionally destroyed the landing ship Minsk, and the Kilo 636.3-class submarine Rostov-na-Donu “likely suffered catastrophic damage.”

During the field test, the company deployed two Baha sub-cloud — or low-altitude — unmanned aerial vehicles; two Barkan unmanned ground vehicles; and a swarm consisting of five drones.

Mehmet Akif Nacar, who leads Havelsan, said the assets performed their tasks during the scenario. He explained that two Pioneer drones provided aerial surveillance and guided the unmanned ground vehicles to identified targets, while the swarm provided reconnaissance. The entire operation was controlled by the so-called Mixed Swarm Operation Center.

“This stage was one of the most important milestones we wanted to achieve in terms of digital forces and swarm technologies. In the future systems, we will continue to develop this ecosystem by working on different scenarios — scenarios where more unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles and swarm drones can be used, and where multiple drones can operate simultaneously,” Nacar said.

The company told Defense News that the Digital Troop’s research and development phase began three years ago.

“In 2020, the design and development studies of the unmanned ground vehicle Barkan were conducted, the first power supply was provided and the first run was conducted at the end of the year. In the same year, the first design and development studies of the Baha sub-cloud unmanned aerial vehicle began, and the first test flight of Baha was conducted five months later,” the firm said.

Then in 2021, Havelsan launched field tests of its unmanned ground vehicle and drone swarm technologies, the company noted, while a task group worked on the subcloud drones in 2022.

Havelsan declined to comment on upcoming developments, citing confidentiality.

What is the Digital Troop effort?

The Digital Troop concept aims to develop technologies that enable battlefield activities to take less time and be more effective. The idea consists of three main pillars:

• Training and battle preparation through the use of high-tech simulations developed by the company.
• Wearable technologies that help soldiers more easily carry heavy loads, move faster and use heavier weapons. A mechanical, skeletal structure is to be 10 times the size of an average soldier, who will be able to simultaneously communicate with teammates and unmanned systems, assigning objectives as well as sharing location information and tasks.
• The integrated autonomous robotic system, created when the user integrates autonomous unmanned systems with wearable technologies and a command-and-control center, is the foundation of the concept. The control of multiple unmanned ground and aerial vehicles by an individual could mean less soldiers involved in an operation.

The company also wants to incorporate its Sancar unmanned surface vessel. All assets would be managed as part of a network-centric architecture using the company’s combat management system Advent.

Havelsan exported the Baha drone to an African country during the 2023 IDEF exhibition in Istanbul in late July. The Barkan vehicle has gained initial operating capability and was delivered to the Turkish military last year.

Turkish media first ran drawings of the Anka-3 in December, but the company on March 18 released a photo of the combat UAV. The company also said it ran the first taxi tests of the indigenous fighter jet TF-X as well as the Hurjet trainer and light attack aircraft.

At the Border Security Summit held March 21-22 in Ankara, TAI chief executive Temel Kotil said the Anka-3 has begun ground tests ahead of plans for its maiden flight.

“The new unmanned aerial vehicle (UCAV) will be outfitted with the same aviation infrastructure and ground control station as the ANKA drones,” TAI said in a statement. “The first prototype’s structural assembly was completed in January 2023, and ground tests are currently underway. The ANKA-3′s engine will be powered up in April 2023, and the taxi service will begin. The inaugural flight is scheduled for the same month.”

Kotil also discussed technical specifications of the drone during his presentation at the event. According to the CEO, the Anka-3 will have a maximum takeoff weight of 6,500 kilograms (14,330 pounds) and a payload capacity of 1,200 kilograms (2,646 pounds). Its maximum altitude is 40,000 feet, and can last 10 hours at 30,000 feet, he added, which its cruise speed is 250 knots (288 mph) with a top speed of 425 knots (489 mph).

This means the Anka-3 outperforms the company’s other UAVs — the Aksungur and older Anka variants — in terms of speed and payload capacity.

The Anka-3 photo suggests the combat UAV is equipped with two orange-colored drones, which appear to be Simsek target drones converted to serve as loitering munitions — otherwise known as kamikaze drones. The company did not reveal information about the Anka-3′s weapons portfolio and sensors, but it’s expected to feature internal and external weapons stations.

TAI is developing the aircraft primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions; deep-strike operations; and the destruction or suppression of enemy air defenses.

The company declined to provide the unit cost of the Anka-3.

The subsidiary of SNT Holding announced it has signed a deal with BMC, a Turkish-Qatari partnership that builds the Altay, to supply the EST15K, a 1,500-horsepower automatic transmission. The South Korean company said the export deal includes $74.9 million of supply until 2027 and has an option for further sourcing priced at $141 million between 2028 and 2030.

SNT said the deal was signed after field tests and assessment, including an endurance driving test last year.

“It is a valuable achievement through a harsh test evaluation, such as completing a night-based driving of about 200 kilometers (124.27 miles) a day even in the local rough terrain and environment,” the company said.

The first phase of Altay tanks will be equipped with a Korean power group consisting of a Hyundai Doosan production DV27K diesel engine and SNT Dynamics production EST15K gearbox.

BMC expects to deliver the first two tanks to the Turkish government in May 2023. Field tests are expected to continue until 2025, both by the Turkish Armed Forces and by contractors.

Mehmet Karaaslan, general manager of the company, said BMC is slated to turn over eight units a month for an initial batch of 100 units.

BMC won the multibillion-dollar Altay contract in 2018. That contract provides for a first lot of 250 tanks, life-cycle logistical support and the establishment and operation by the contractor of a tank systems technology center.

The Altay program is broken into two phases: T1 and T2. T1 covers the first 250 units, and T2 involves the advanced version of the tank. The second phase of Altay production will be powered by BMC’s indigenous power group, known as Batu.

Turkey plans to eventually produce 1,000 Altays, to be followed by an unmanned version.