Zitat:TURKISH MILITARY PROJECTS TO WAIT FOR EU


ANKARA [MENL] -- Turkey was expected to wait for a European Union decision for membership before proceeding with military procurement projects.

Turkish government sources and analysts said Ankara would delay major procurement until the EU clarifies its plans regarding membership for Turkey in December 2004. They said procurement would also depend on the revision of military requirements in the aftermath of the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

As a result, the sources said, Turkey's Defense Ministry could delay a decision on major procurement for at least another year. In the meantime, the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has been wooing European defense contractors to bid on a range of proposed tenders in an effort to expand the lobby for Turkey's accession to the EU.

"Erdogan and his government will oppose any major military contract that does not give Turkey added benefit and that means capabilities for the defense industry or political credits with the EU," a government source said. "There is quiet agreement for this position within the military's General Staff."

Zitat:wieso vortritt?
gibt doch genug leo2
ausserdem werden nur die a4 gebraucht sein die a6 werden neu von den griechen gebaut.

Zitat:Boeing, Turkey Complete Review of Peace Eagle Program
ST. LOUIS, October 21, 2004 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Turkey successfully completed the preliminary design review (PDR) of the airborne and ground mission system for Turkey's first 737 airborne early warning and control aircraft, known as Peace Eagle.

The PDR includes a general review of the design architecture against the requirements established by the Turkish customer.

“The next step in the process is the detailed design definition of components, parts and software to create the airborne and ground mission systems,” said Mike Brewer, Boeing Peace Eagle program manager.

Zitat:Turkey to buy 50 more Seahawk/Blackhawk/Knighthawk helicopters


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Turkey, Sikorsky Discuss Major Buy
By UMIT ENGINSOY, WASHINGTON, And BURAK EGE BEKDIL, ANKARA


Turkey is negotiating with Sikorsky Aircraft to buy more than 50 utility and naval warfare helicopters, a deal that could be worth more than $900 million, government officials and industry sources said.

If finalized, it will be the largest helicopter purchase in Turkey’s defense procurement history.

“The figure now discussed is nearly 53 platforms, including Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopters and other naval platforms for our Navy, and Black Hawk utility helicopters for our Army and Gendarmerie Forces,” said one Turkish procurement official. “The overall figure, as well as the number of platforms in each force category, could go up or down; nothing is finalized at this point.”

Zitat:Turkey Leans Toward Eurocopter for Gunship Deal

Eurocopter’s Tiger has emerged as an early frontrunner in Turkey’s multibillion-dollar attack helicopter program at a time when Ankara is seeking to boost its European Union (EU) membership bid with large-scale business deals with the bloc, Turkish government officials and international business sources said.

Turkey’s procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), is planning to send a request for proposals to international gunship manufacturers before the end of this year for the long-delayed program to buy 50 helicopters, SSM sources said. The deal is worth more than $2 billion.

Turkish officials said that as the country was preparing to launch formal membership talks with the European Union, it intended to follow a “balanced approach” between U.S. and European suppliers in future defense deals.

Zitat:Tank Deal Awaits EU Decision on Turk Membership

A tank deal between Turkey and Germany will go through after the European Union sets a date for Ankara to start formal membership talks with the 25-nation bloc, Turkish and German officials said.

The sale of nearly 250 second-hand Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks could be sealed shortly after the Dec. 17 meeting of EU leaders.

“There has been major progress for a deal,” a senior Turkish military official said. “We hope December’s summit will remove the last remaining political obstacle.”

Although Germany and Turkey are NATO allies, Berlin has declined to sell some weapons to Ankara because of concerns over human rights.

But the EU Commission’s Oct. 6 decision to recommend accession talks also opened the door to more arms sales, German Defense Minister Peter Struck said.

A German diplomat here said that both Ankara and Berlin were keen to pen a deal on the Leopard tanks.