Several Turkish media sources reported that the topic was discussed at the 8th Pak-Turk Industrial Fair Joint Working Group Meeting, which started this week at Pakistan’s National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP).
Defence News Timely with Confirmed Details
Get the latest news on Pakistani defense with trusted information and precise predictions. The Pak-Turk Joint Working Group (JWG) is a meeting that happens twice a year, involving key ministries and both state and private companies from both nations. Moreover, Turkish media mentioned that they also talked about potentially selling the KAAN, Türkiye’s next-generation fighter aircraft (NGFA), to Pakistan.
About the helicopter, it is not clear if it would be for civilian or military use, but since this JWG meeting involved mainly defense companies—including Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)—it is likely focused on military purposes.
A Reminder of the T129 ATAK Deal
In 2018, Pakistan ordered 30 T129 ATAK helicopters from TAI. The deal collapsed because the U.S. blocked re-export licences for the ATAK’s LHTEC T800 turboshaft engines. By 2020, many believed the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps would choose the Chinese Z-10ME over the T129 and AH-1Z. The AH-1Z deal also collapsed when the U.S. refused to release Foreign Military Support funds for Pakistan’s purchase. In 2021, Dr Ismail Demir, head of Türkiye’s Defence Industry Agency, confirmed Pakistan gave TAI another six-month extension. This extension followed an earlier one-year grace period, allowing TAI more time to find a replacement engine solution.
Türkiye’s Homegrown Engine Brings New Options
One big step after the failed T129 deal is Türkiye’s own turboshaft engine, the TEI TS1400. Türkiye began developing the TS1400 in 2017 to reduce its reliance on foreign, mostly American, engines. TEI estimated it would take about eight years to fully develop and ready the engine for service.
In 2020, TEI tested the core of the TS1400. In 2023, the engine was successfully tested in a utility helicopter, the TAI T625 Gökbey, which was made by TAI itself. The TS1400 has since passed several certification exams, including one for EASA standards in June 2024. It met the CS-E 740 endurance test by completing 15 straight six-hour test runs without failure. During testing, the TS1400 delivered a strong power output of 1,740 shp, equal to about 1,279 kilowatts.
Conclusion
TEI expects the TS1400 to achieve international certification by 2026, adhering to the eight-year plan for the engine’s development. Both countries may be exploring a possible joint helicopter project based on the TEI TS1400 engine, which could be one of several potential outcomes.
References
- Defense News Today: Comprehensive updates on Pakistan-Türkiye defense collaborations and the latest military developments.
Website: https://www.defensenewstoday.info - Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI): Official details about TAI’s projects, including the T129 ATAK and TS1400 engine.
Website: https://www.tusas.com - European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): Certification standards and progress reports on engines like the TS1400.
Website: https://www.easa.europa.eu
