Turkey finally begins attack helicopter productionTurkey is proceeding with its long-standing contract between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Italian firm AgustaWestland, with new attack helicopters set to go into production this week.
The historic event will be celebrated with a ceremony tomorrow at TAI's main production facilities with the participation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Defense Vecdi Gönül. The project was previously suspended because it lacked the necessary export license approvals from the US for the helicopter's US-made engines and guns, sources close to the defense industry have said.
The US was reluctant to transfer licenses for its LHTECH T-800 engines, a crucial component in the helicopters, offering instead to extend technical assistance after engine orders are dispatched. To avoid further delays on the project due to this standstill with the Americans, the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) signed an agreement with AgustaWestland on June 24 to put the project into motion at any cost, hoping to receive the necessary US licenses for the engines and the guns at a later stage.
Due to state policy, technology transfer is a very difficult process for US companies and it is possible only with approval of Congress. The US had not honored Turkish requests for the technology for superior helicopter engines before the tender in early 2007, prompting Ankara to select AgustaWestland as the winner of the project. The SSM, AgustaWestland, TAI and local contractor Aselsan signed contracts worth around $2.7 billion for the production of A-129 attack helicopters in Turkey. Despite these independent steps, the Turkish and Italian sides are now depending on the US for the installation of engines and guns on the helicopters.
The SSM is getting 51 (plus 41 optional) attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopters (ATAK) for the Turkish Land Forces, including local software development based on the original source codes and hardware as well as the integration of high-technology avionics. AgustaWestland's partner group, Finmeccanica, had announced last September that Turkey's order of 51 combat helicopters was worth around 1.2 billion euros. The remaining $1.1 billion of the total $2.7 billion project will be financed by TAI and Aselsan. TAI will be responsible for the integration, modification, certification and testing of the helicopters, all of which are scheduled to be completed at the end of the 58th month following the signing of the contract.
23 June 2008, Monday
TODAY'S ZAMAN ANKARA
Source
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=145571&bolum=105
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