Desperate Measures

The Strategy Page ^ | 11/16/2010 | The Strategy Page

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Turkey has ordered another nine Italian A129 helicopter gunships, but only if they can be delivered within two years. This is in addition to 51 A129s (called T129s for the Turkish version) already on order, which will be delivered after 2012. This is all because Turkey is in desperate need of more helicopter gunships. They have found this type of aircraft particularly useful against Kurdish separatists (the PKK) operating in southeastern Turkey. Currently, Turkey relies on a fleet of about two dozen elderly American AH-1 gunships, which are being worn out because of intense operations against the PKK. For most of this year, Turkey has been trying to get some Mangusta A129 helicopter gunships as quickly as possible. At one point, the Turks were seeking to lease an additional nine A129s from the Italian manufacturer (or anyone else who will make a deal). The Turks have also asked the United States for another nine American AH-1W gunships. The A129 manufacturer said it would take two years to deliver the new A129s, but the Turks hoped that leased ones could be obtained in less than a year. This did not work out. In addition, the U.S. was not willing to make a major effort to get Turkey more AH-1s, not in light of how hostile Turkey has been toward the United States over the last seven years. Finally, the Turks accepted the two year A129 delivery, but only on condition that the sale was only good if they got them by 2012.