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Turkey Authorizes Initial Purchase of 2 F-35s
ANKARA - Turkey's top decision-making body Jan. 5 paved the way for the country's formal participation in a U.S.-led program for the production of next-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft.
"The Defense Industry Executive Committee has authorized the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries [SSM] to conduct talks for the aircraft's purchase order," the committee said in a statement after its meeting. The committee's members include Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Defense Minister İsmet Yilmaz, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel and procurement chief Murad Bayar.
SSM and Lockheed Martin, the plane's main manufacturer, now are expected to sign a formal document for Turkey's purchase order for a first batch of two F-35s. This decision enables Turkey to begin the reception of the aircraft in 2015.
Turkey is a member of the F-35 consortium, but until Jan. 5 had not been committed officially to buy the aircraft. Turkey plans eventually to operate about 100 aircraft. Other members of the consortium include the United States, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Norway and Denmark.
Other countries have interest in the aircraft but are not part of the consortium, including Israel. A recent decision by Japan to buy the F-35 has been a major boost for the program. Japan and Israel are expected to receive deliveries as of 2016.
The committee also has chosen the U.S. Bell Helicopter Textron as the main producer of the Turkish police's next light helicopter type.
The committee's decision came at a time when the Turkish police are preparing to assume a larger role in the fight against the outlawed separatist Kurdistan Workers Party. The Security Directorate will buy up to 15 light helicopters, worth up to $100 million, in a first batch to bolster the force's capabilities.
Bell was competing against Italy's AgustaWestland and Eurocopter Deutschland, the Eurocopter's German arm.
Bell later is expected to lead the manufacture for the Turkish police of more light helicopters in planned follow-up batches. The company also is expected to cooperate in the production with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Turkey's state-owned aerospace company.
The Turkish Security Directorate's helicopter fleet is primarily composed of U.S.-made MD600 light helicopters, which are getting older and more difficult to operate. The new light helicopters should be more effective at police tasks such as tracking suspected criminals and intervening in incidents that could erupt during mass demonstrations, industry sources said.
The committee also decided that SSM would buy 10 Anka UAVs from TAI. After the first three tests ended with crash landings, the final three flight tests were successful. TAI would have delivered three Ankas to the military this year, but the committee's decision paves the way for serial production of 10 platforms.
ANKARA - Turkey's top decision-making body Jan. 5 paved the way for the country's formal participation in a U.S.-led program for the production of next-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft.
"The Defense Industry Executive Committee has authorized the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries [SSM] to conduct talks for the aircraft's purchase order," the committee said in a statement after its meeting. The committee's members include Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Defense Minister İsmet Yilmaz, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel and procurement chief Murad Bayar.
SSM and Lockheed Martin, the plane's main manufacturer, now are expected to sign a formal document for Turkey's purchase order for a first batch of two F-35s. This decision enables Turkey to begin the reception of the aircraft in 2015.
Turkey is a member of the F-35 consortium, but until Jan. 5 had not been committed officially to buy the aircraft. Turkey plans eventually to operate about 100 aircraft. Other members of the consortium include the United States, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Norway and Denmark.
Other countries have interest in the aircraft but are not part of the consortium, including Israel. A recent decision by Japan to buy the F-35 has been a major boost for the program. Japan and Israel are expected to receive deliveries as of 2016.
The committee also has chosen the U.S. Bell Helicopter Textron as the main producer of the Turkish police's next light helicopter type.
The committee's decision came at a time when the Turkish police are preparing to assume a larger role in the fight against the outlawed separatist Kurdistan Workers Party. The Security Directorate will buy up to 15 light helicopters, worth up to $100 million, in a first batch to bolster the force's capabilities.
Bell was competing against Italy's AgustaWestland and Eurocopter Deutschland, the Eurocopter's German arm.
Bell later is expected to lead the manufacture for the Turkish police of more light helicopters in planned follow-up batches. The company also is expected to cooperate in the production with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Turkey's state-owned aerospace company.
The Turkish Security Directorate's helicopter fleet is primarily composed of U.S.-made MD600 light helicopters, which are getting older and more difficult to operate. The new light helicopters should be more effective at police tasks such as tracking suspected criminals and intervening in incidents that could erupt during mass demonstrations, industry sources said.
The committee also decided that SSM would buy 10 Anka UAVs from TAI. After the first three tests ended with crash landings, the final three flight tests were successful. TAI would have delivered three Ankas to the military this year, but the committee's decision paves the way for serial production of 10 platforms.