Pakistan and Türkiye reportedly discussed the possibility of jointly designing and producing a helicopter.
The reports originated from multiple Turkish news outlets, which claimed that the proposal was discussed during the 8th Pak-Turk Industrial Fair Joint Working Group Meeting, which began this week at Pakistan’s National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP).
First, the topic could have simply been the possibility of producing a variant of the T625 for Pakistan’s civil and/or military markets. In fact, in 2018, a TAI representative told Quwa that the company was open to establishing an assembly plant as well as complete maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for the T625 in Pakistan. Not only would this program be for the Pakistani market, but the surrounding region as well (including Central Asia).
The T625 is a 6-ton design with a total capacity of 14 people (2 crew plus 12 passengers), making it comparable to the Leonardo AW139, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Dhruv, and many others of that size. It is a twin-engine platform with a maximum cruising speed of 165 knots, service ceiling of 20,000 ft, and range of 740 km with auxiliary fuel tank.
Second, the two sides may have discussed developing a military variant of the T625. Each of the Pakistani military’s service arms – notably the PAA and the Pakistan Navy (PN) – can use a helicopter of the size and general performance capabilities of the T625.
For the PAA, the T625 could be a way to gradually replace its UH-1, Bell-412EP, and Bell 407 helicopters. These platforms support many roles, including troop transport, utility, VIP, special operations, and in some cases, supporting the Strategic Plans Division (SPD).
For the PN, the T629 can form the basis of a multirole naval helicopter to replace both its Alouette IIIs and Z-9ECs as well as equip its growing surface fleet.
Third – and perhaps an area of pressing concern to the PAA – the possibility of an attack helicopter was discussed. This could take the form of either TAI’s proposed T629, which would be based on the engine, rotor, and other dynamic parts of the T625 (thus offering significant platform commonality), or a sub-variant of the T129.
In any case, an attack helicopter program would not be out of the realm of possibility. The PAA seems to require a significant number of aircraft, yet has not opted for an alternative. However, it is unlikely that it was ‘waiting’; rather, the PA leadership likely prioritized their armour, artillery, and air defence acquisitions ahead of aviation.
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