Islamabad: Turkey and Pakistan are likely to sign an important defense deal which will further enhance already existing defense ties between old friends.According to source it was decided last week in a series of meetings that Pakistan is in talks with Turkey to buy T129 multi-role T129 attack helicopters.
“One of the most important issues between [the two countries] is a deal for T129 attack helicopters,” Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Işık was quoted as saying by Anadolu Agency at a joint press conference after meeting his Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Muhammad Asif in Islamabad Friday.
Pakistan will buy fourty T-129 multi-role attack helicopters. Both the sides had agreed on the agreement during the last meeting of defense ministers of the two countries. The T-129 is a multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter co-developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries and Agusta Westland. The aircraft is currently operated by the Turkish Army and is being offered for export to a number of other countries, besides Pakistan. In the past Pakistan considered the purchasing of T-129 helicopter a few years back, but ultimately opted for the Bell Helicopters AH-1Z Viper of U.S.
Turkish Navy would upgrade three Agosta Khalid submarines and an agreement in this regard is likely to be signed end of this month between the two countries. Turkey has also shown interest to purchase Pakistani-made Super Mushshak basic trainer aircraft.
The first flight of the first Turkish prototype helicopter was completed at the TAI’s facilities in Ankara in 2011 and several countries have so far expressed an interest in buying the product.
The Turkish defense minister also said plans to purchase Pakistani-made Super Mushshak basic trainer aircraft were still in the pipeline.
He went on to note that the Pakistani authorities, for their part, had requested the purchase of four Turkish Ada-class corvettes, which would be built in Pakistan.
Işık said Turkey and Pakistan have “special relations” that date back a long way, particularly praising the two country’s relations in the defense industry.
“To ensure the region’s peace and security, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan should maintain close ties,” he added.
Işık also said Turkey and Pakistan had begun discussing details of a cooperation deal by which Turkey would help modernize the Pakistani navy’s fleet of three Agosta-class submarines.
Source:- Defenseworld.net
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