The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) is deepening defence cooperation with Türkiye as part of its rapidly expanding armament and modernisation goals. Within this framework, executives from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) met with Air Force Commander Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan at the Bangladesh Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka.
During the meeting held on Wednesday (14 January), discussions focused on accelerating Bangladesh’s process of procuring eight Turkish-made T129 ATAK attack helicopters. The meeting was attended by TAI Corporate Marketing and Communications President Bertan Kurt and the Military Attaché of the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka, Colonel Himi Barış Yıldız. The meeting took place at the Air Force Headquarters between 09:30 and 10:15 in the morning.
It was learned that a broader TAI delegation arrived in Dhaka on 13 January. The eight-member team, which included representatives from the ANKA UAV and T129 ATAK programmes, initiated a series of engagements with officers responsible for unmanned aerial vehicle and attack helicopter procurement processes within the Bangladesh Air Force.
The delegation included TAI Flight Test Director Arif Ateş, ANKA UAV Manager Nur Muhammed Akbulut, T129 ATAK Manager Mustafa Aykut Saraç, Head of Marketing Operations Bahadır Siyez, Intelligence Products Manager Davut Çikrikçi, Business Development Manager Çağnur Güney, Corporate Marketing Country Manager Ramazan Talha Üstüm, and Defence Attaché Colonel Erdal Şahin.
One of the notable engagements was a meeting held on 13 January at Dhaka Cantonment between Arif Ateş and Bangladesh Armed Forces Division Chief Master Sergeant Lieutenant Colonel SM Kamrul Hassan. During the meeting, defence industry cooperation and bilateral opportunities between Dhaka and Istanbul were discussed.
Developed by TAI, the ANKA series of unmanned aerial vehicles is among the key elements of Türkiye’s Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV family. Used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions, ANKA platforms stand out with endurance exceeding 24 hours and high-altitude capability. The ANKA-S variant, in particular, comes to the fore in land and maritime operations with satellite communications and advanced radar systems.
The T129 ATAK attack helicopters that Bangladesh plans to procure were developed through cooperation between AgustaWestland and TAI and are actively used in the inventory of the Turkish Land Forces. Designed to operate in hot and challenging geographical conditions, the T129 delivers high performance in attack, reconnaissance, and deterrence missions.
Thanks to advanced stealth features, enhanced ballistic protection, and high manoeuvrability, the T129 ATAK can operate effectively in complex combat environments and confined areas. Suitable for day and night operations, the helicopter is equipped with a laser rangefinder/designator, a helmet-mounted sight system, and an emergency locator transmitter.
Capable of carrying up to 1,200 kilograms of munitions across four weapon stations, the T129 can be armed with anti-tank guided missiles, air-to-air missiles, 70 mm rockets, and guided rockets. A nose-mounted 20 mm three-barrel cannon system and optional 12.7 mm gun pods further enhance the helicopter’s firepower.
