Due to its geographical location, Türkiye is either a neighbor or very close to troubled regions of the world. Due to its proximity to conflict zones and its long history of combating terrorism both within and beyond its borders, Türkiye has had its own unique needs. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK-Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê), recognized as a terrorist organization by the US and the EU, is a separatist militant group that has been carrying out armed attacks against civilian and military targets in Türkiye since August 15, 1984.

By the 1990s, air superiority had become increasingly important in the Internal Security Operations conducted against the PKK. The increasing number of general-purpose and attack helicopters were used for both personnel transport and armed reconnaissance flights. Attack helicopters proved very useful in the region, but they also had their own drawbacks. The combination of the region's high mountains and high summer temperatures reduced the helicopters' performance. Their time spent in the mission area and the loads they carried were decreasing.