Pakistan cancels $ 1,5 billion helicopter deal with Turkey

The agreement signed in 2018 with Turkey, which envisioned the purchase of 30 T-129 ATAK helicopters for $ 1,5 billion, canceled Pakistan.

The Pakistani military has confirmed that it has withdrawn from an agreement to supply Turkish helicopters due to delays in US sanctions against Turkey over its S-400s.

"We have withdrawn from the [T129] agreement with Turkey," Pakistan Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Babar Iftihar said in response to a reporter's question Wednesday.

Instead, he added, Pakistan has begun talks with China on acquiring Z-10ME helicopters.

The Pakistani military is in a hurry to replace the 32 "Bell AH-1 Cobra" helicopters that have been in service for more than 30 years.

Where did the agreement "stumble"

Pakistan was expected to buy 30 twin-engine T-129 ATAK helicopters.

However, due to the lack of engines, which are produced by LHTEC - a partnership of the British company Rolls-Royce and the American company Honeywell - the agreement "stuck" and Turkey could not produce and deliver them to Pakistan.

The Donald Trump administration had refused to grant LHTEC permission.

Turkey tried to persuade Washington on this issue, but failed. In December 2020, Pakistan agreed to extend the delivery period of the helicopters, but now refuses to give a new extension to Ankara and is already aiming to buy Z-10ME armed helicopters made in China.

It is worth noting that this agreement was intended to be the largest export of Turkey's defense industry.