Dhaka has intensified negotiations with Turkey to acquire attack helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, signalling a deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) is pursuing the procurement of eight Turkish T129 ATAK attack helicopters, with senior officials from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) holding a series of high-level meetings in the capital this week, intelligence sources in Bangladesh said.
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan met TAI Corporate Marketing and Communications Head Bertan Kurt and Colonel Himi Baris Yildiz, the Military Attaché at the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka, at Air Headquarters on Wednesday morning. The meeting, held between 9.30 am and 10.15 am, focused on advancing discussions related to the acquisition of attack helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.
A larger TAI delegation arrived in Dhaka on January 13 and has since been engaging with BAF officers involved in the procurement process. The visiting team includes senior officials associated with the ANKA unmanned aerial vehicle programme and the ATAK helicopter project, including TAI Flight Test Director Arif Ates, ANKA UAV Manager Nur Muhammad Akbulut, T129 ATAK Manager Mustafa Aykut Sarac, along with marketing, intelligence and business development executives.
On January 13, Arif Ates also met Lieutenant Colonel S M Kamrul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer at Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division, at Dhaka Cantonment to discuss bilateral defence cooperation and future opportunities between Bangladesh and Turkey.
An intelligence official active in Dhaka said the discussions have expanded beyond helicopters to include medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned systems.
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“The discussions have covered both attack helicopters and unmanned aerial systems. The ANKA series of drones, manufactured by TAI, belong to the Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV category and are designed for reconnaissance, surveillance and strike missions. Advanced variants such as the Anka-S are equipped with satellite communication and radar systems, enabling naval and land operations. These drones have an endurance exceeding 24 hours and can operate at high altitudes,” the official said.
The T129 ATAK helicopters under consideration are jointly developed by AgustaWestland and TAI for the Turkish Land Forces Command and for export markets. Designed for high-performance operations in demanding terrain and climatic conditions, the platform is widely used by the Turkish military.
“The helicopter features an aluminium alloy airframe, a five-bladed main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor and wheeled landing gear. It is designed for operations in hot and challenging environments and can be deployed for attack, reconnaissance and deterrence missions. Equipped with stealth features and enhanced ballistic tolerance, the T129 is capable of operating in complex battlefield conditions, including confined areas. It can conduct both day and night operations and is fitted with a laser rangefinder/designator, helmet-mounted night vision display system and an emergency locator transmitter,” the official said.
The helicopter is fitted with four hardpoints and can carry up to 1,200 kg of weapons. Its armament package includes anti-tank guided missiles, air-to-air missiles, 70 mm rockets and guided rocket systems. A three-barrel 20 mm turreted gun is mounted on the nose, with optional 12.7 mm gun pods available.
Sources indicated that the ongoing engagements reflect Dhaka’s intent to modernise its aerial combat and surveillance capabilities, while reinforcing defence cooperation with Ankara. The procurement process, they said, is expected to advance further in the coming months.
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