After Pakistan, Thailand has joined the list of countries interested in buying Turkey's T129 Advanced Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter (ATAK), according to the Turkish daily Habertürk.
Thai Army's Aviation Commander Maj. Gen. Chaoroj Sorso, accompanied by a delegation of pilots, recently examined the domestically produced attack helicopter at a defense exhibition in Bangkok.
Reports claimed that the delegation had significant discussions, regarding the purchase, in an hour-long meeting with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) officials.Earlier last month, Pakistan decided to buy some 30 ATAK helicopters from Turkey after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shadid Khaqan Abbasi, himself a pilot, performed a test flight in Istanbul. Contract negotiations between the Pakistani government and TAI are currently underway.
The first foreign sales of ATAK helicopters were made to Azerbaijan with 60 units in a deal worth $3 billion.
The helicopter also performed a demonstration flight for the first time in the Dubai Airshow on Nov. 12.
Meanwhile, Malaysia is discussing a possible deal to buy TAI's Unmanned Armed Vehicle (UAV), ANKA.
In 2016, Turkish Exporters Assembly's (TİM) evaluated TAI as Turkey's largest defense and aviation industry exporter for the sixth time in a row.
The company leads Turkey's efforts in aerospace technology and is ranked among the top-100 global players in aerospace and defense. It operates in five key areas, including aero-structures, planes, helicopters, UAVs and space systems.
