Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii (TUSAŞ) Kurumsal Pazarlama ve İletişim Başkanı Tamer Özmen, Atak helikopterinin Filipinler'e satışına yönelik yürütülen görüşmelere ilişkin bilgi verdi.
Filipinler'in taarruz helikopteri ihtiyacını genel maksat helikopteri silahlandırarak karşılamak üzere yola çıktığını ve bir süredir bu amaçla arayışta olduğunu anlatan Özmen, bu arayışların pilotların Türkiye’deki uçuşu sonrasında, sınıfının en iyisi durumundaki Atak ile sonlandığını söyledi.
Filipinler'in bu arayışından haberdar olduklarında yetkilileri Türkiye'ye davet ettiklerini, bölgede katıldıkları fuarlarda bir araya geldiklerini dile getiren Özmen, Filipinli pilotların mayıs ayında Atak ile uçuş gerçekleştirdiklerini belirtti. Özmen, şöyle konuştu:
"Atak ile uçtuklarında gerçek bir taarruz helikopterinin ne olduğunu çok daha iyi anladılar. Atak'ı diğer helikopterlerle karşılaştırdıklarında çok üstün buldular. Çok kısa süre içinde taarruz helikopteri almaya ve Atak helikopterini seçmeye karar verdiler. Süreç çok hızlı gelişti. Pakistan'ın çok zorlu bir süreçle Atak helikopterini seçmesi, Türkiye'deki operasyon başarısı, bölge ülkelerine yönelik izlediğimiz pazarlama faaliyetleri Filipinler'e bizi yaklaştırdı."
Contract negotiations started
At the point, Özmen said there is a need for the Defense Industry Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding from the state to the state for the sale of Atak to the Philippines.
Defense Industry Presidency (SSB) with the support of this process accelerated and the SSB President Ismail Demir said the memorandum was signed by Ozmen, said:
With this signature, Atak opened up ways to contribute to state-to-state sales, technology transfer, mutual cooperation, and industrialization, especially with Atak. We can think of our first meeting as the first stage of the contract negotiations.
Our proposal and correspondence brought us to this point. We made the first meeting on our offer. We had the chance to see the technical requirements again. We have a consensus on many issues. In 2019, they want to implement the first phase of the procurement plan. They're just as willing as we are. Particularly the eyes of pilots flying with Atak were shining. This project will be part of a major modernization. They have a need to modernize their fleet.
Results in less than 1 year
Tamer Ozmen, in less than a year after Pakistan, the Philippines has become the most serious customer for the sale of Atak, said it was an important success.
In the technical and administrative meetings they held immediately after the signing of the text of the reconciliation, Özmen said that they discussed the process of the contractual calendar. If possible, we would like to make the first delivery of Atak and fly it in the Philippines. said.
Özmen said that the Philippines has a budget for the project and a staged procurement process is under way.
"As the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency of the SSB has stated, a figure below 10 will form the first supply package, followed by an optional option: the Philippines Air Force has a number for modernization, and we think that this option will be evaluated in order to reach that number. We are confident in our helicopter, activity, program and logistical supportability.
Formula for first helicopters to be used in pilot training
Tamer Ozmen, in line with the expectations of the fast delivery and pilot training in their own helicopters to complete their pilot program, as foreseen in the current program, at least in the pilot program required to supply 1-2 helicopters, he said.
Ozmen, "Pilot training, the customer is produced by the country helicopters. Similar model will be available for both Pakistan and the Philippines. Customer naturally wants to receive all helicopters as soon as possible. The delivery schedule, the current production and delivery programs, the needs of domestic users will be shaped by considering such factors. " he said.
Emphasizing that the Philippines will make a significant contribution to the marketing activities in the region, Özmen said: Having made such a sale after Pakistan will make a positive contribution to the global branding of our company and other ongoing marketing and business development processes in the region. said.
