Turkey finds $5 billion helicopter deal unacceptable

[Jigs]

http://www.trdefence.com/2010/12/21/turkey-finds-5-billion-helicopter-deal-unacceptable/


Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner have responded harshly to the price proposed for 109 helicopters from an American and an Italian company.

According to military sources, US company Sikorsky and the Italian AgustaWestland requested $5 billion for the sale, maintenance and transportation of 109 choppers to Turkey. The prime minister and the chief of General Staff underlined that they were willing to pay no more than $3.5 billion for the order during a Defense Industry Implementation Committee (SSİK) meeting. It has been decided to continue talks with the American and Italian companies.

Prime Minister Erdoğan, Gen. Koşaner and Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül met during the SSİK meeting on Dec. 15. One of the decisions taken was to start a project for Turkey’s first entirely domestically produced fighter jet. It was also expected that the SSİK would reach a conclusion regarding Turkey’s tender for the purchase of 109 helicopters. The US-based Sikorsky and the Italian AgustaWestland were the bidding companies, both with a bid of approximately $5 billion. Prime Minister Erdoğan and Gen. Koşaner both underlined that they are unwilling to accept the $5 billion offer.

Military sources noted that Gen. Koşaner’s preference was the Sikorsky choppers that are currently in use by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Erdoğan preferred the Italian company as it would provide technology transfers.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

5 billion for helicopters ? lol what is it a aircraft carrier that flies in air with helicopters on it

 

[Mani2020]

5 billion dollars for 109 helicopters that is something $48 million for one helicopter

$48million = 1 chopper


BTW what exactly kind of choppers they are are offering

 

[somebozo]

Ehh Turkey has a lot of indigenous talent and their own chopper tech as well. Not sure why it needs USA or Italy for maintenance. Why not train the Turks and do it yourself?

 

[Jigs]

5 billion dollars for 109 helicopters that is something $48 million for one helicopter

$48million = 1 chopper


BTW what exactly kind of choppers they are are offering

S-70 Blackhawk and AW-149 are the two models being offered.

 

[Jigs]

Ehh Turkey has a lot of indigenous talent and their own chopper tech as well. Not sure why it needs USA or Italy for maintenance. Why not train the Turks and do it yourself?

These are a little bit ahead of what we can do right now. For now this is a better choice but i am sure the next time we need utility helicopters we could make our own.

 

[Parashuram1]

But do they not offer freedom for re-sale and indepedent manufacturing in Turkish Aeronautical Industry? I assume that the high level of technology transfer accounts to warranting such a high price per helicopter.

 

[CaptainPrice]

That's such a high price but We can't product aircrafts so that woul be better for us.

 

[Super Falcon]

hell lot of money sir more than indian MRCA project ithink well silorsky is going to be good choice for turkey or NH 90 is another option

 

[Penguin]

5 billion dollars for 109 helicopters that is something $48 million for one helicopter

$48million = 1 chopper


BTW what exactly kind of choppers they are are offering

$46 million for sale, maintenance and transportation

So, it really depends on the maintenance issue > what's included and for how long

S-70 in 2008 cost about $14 million a pop. With price adjustement to 2010, that probably leaves about $30 mainly for maintenance.

AW140 is a development of AW139 which costs about $21million a pop. While obviously more expensive (smaller number sold > proportionally higher component development cost), there is linkage with T-129 attack chopper. This leaves about $25 million for maintenance.

Now, assume the maintenance program to cover a substantial portion of the aircrafts' service life e.g. 20-30 years. Is the price still as unreasonable as it first may have appeared?

 

[avrasya]

These are a little bit ahead of what we can do right now. For now this is a better choice but i am sure the next time we need utility helicopters we could make our own.

Don't we have indigenous utility helicopter project like t 129 ?

 

[mete]

No, we dont. If present, I dont know.

 

[Ulysses]

I know the price is a bit high, but this would reassure our alliances and maintenance and support.

I hope Turkey will accept

 

[Ir.Tab.]

$5 billion?

U.S. firm Sikorsky Aircraft won a $3.5 billion competition in April 2011 to lead the production of more than 100 large utility helicopters for Turkey

 

[Zulkarneyn]

$5 billion?

U.S. firm Sikorsky Aircraft won a $3.5 billion competition in April 2011 to lead the production of more than 100 large utility helicopters for Turkey

Well the original post is almost 2 year old. They made a new deal worth of $3,5 bio. That was also voiced originally by the general staff if you look at the original post $3,5 bio.