|
In July 2006, Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul announced that Turkey will continue talks with Denel of South Africa (AH-2A Rooivalk) and Agusta Aerospace of Italy (A129 International) for Turkey's Land Forces Command's Tactical Reconnaissance & Attack Helicopter (ATAK) Project. Neither has been exported before. The Franco-German EADS Eurocopter (Tiger) and Kamov of Russia (Ka-50-2 Erdogan with IAI) were eliminated.
These platforms are competing for co-production of 30 helicopters with options for another 20 more. Even so, this projected $1.5 billion contract is well short of the 91 attack helicopters Turkey had originally aimed to co-produce when it began this procurement effort - in the mid-1990s.
DID has covered difficulties with this competition before. All three US firms that had participated in previous rounds withdrew because of technology transfer and production issues. Now, reports that this shortlist may result in political issues for Turkey's government are being followed by further reports that the competition is about to be canceled. |
