Local aircraft set to mark Aug 30 parade

Cengizhan Çatal ANKARA

Turkish helicopter ATAK will display its skills at an airshow on Aug 30. DHA photo

Turkey’s locally co-manufactured assault helicopter ATAK will be the first indigenous aircraft on display at the Aug. 30 Victory Day parade.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will showcase its latest inventory during the ceremony, which will be attended by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the first time as president and Ahmet Davutoğlu as prime minister.

The T-129 ATAK helicopter, which is co-produced by Italy’s AgustaWestland and the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), officially joined the Turkish army on June 10.

TAI CEO Muharrem Dörtkaşlı said “we are very proud and honored [of the ATAK helicopter].” In addition to ATAK, the giant military cargo airplane A400M and the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircrafts that were also added to the inventory this year are planned to be displayed in the parade.