ANKARA -- Turkish officials are concerned that the deterioration in U.S.-Turkey relations could impact the sale of T-129 ATAK helicopters to Pakistan.
Speaking to members of the Turkish government and manufacturer TAI, Defense News reported on August 13, 2018, that Turkey is anxious about the potential for poor U.S.-Turkey relations to derail the attack helicopter deal, which was finalized last month. The sale will see Pakistan's Army procure 30 attack helicopters at a cost of $1.5 billion. Together with a sale of warships to Pakistan, the helicopter agreement marks Turkey's largest arms export to date.
But according to a 'Turkish aerospace official', who spoke to Defense News, "The problem is related with the U.S.-made parts for which TAI will need U.S. export licenses in order to materialize the deal." The helicopter is based on the A129 Mangusta and utilizes an engine -- the T-800-4A -- developed by LHTEC, a Honeywell and Rolls-Royce joint venture. Use of American-made components ensures that the U.S. has a 'veto' over the sale.
The deal has otherwise been completed. A Turkish procurement official told Defense News, "This is not a technological or financial matter but is purely political at the moment."
In recent days, the U.S. has rolled out several sanctions targeting government officials and Turkish goods. The sanctions stem largely from Turkey continuing to jail an American pastor, Andrew Craig Brunson. The Turkish government accuses the pastor of involvement in the 2016 military coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But tension between the two NATO allies has built up over a range of issues, including the conflict in neighboring Syria and Turkey's effort to purchase the S-400 from Russia.
Turkish officials still appear optimistic that the agreement will be carried out as planned. An official with TAI pointed out that the firm has not been sanctioned by the U.S. A Turkish defense official said to Defense News, "This is a commercial deal (with Pakistan) with a country that has friendly relations with America. For Washington what matters should be the recipient of the systems, not who produces it and if relations are bumpy with the producer country."
However, U.S. relations with Pakistan are strained as well, as the two countries have clashed over Islamabad's counterterrorism policies and the situation in Afghanistan. The U.S. itself is selling AH-1Z attack helicopters to Pakistan, with a deal on the matter moving forward, but has refused or effectively killed other planned arms deals with Islamabad, such as a sale of F-16s.
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