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Meanwhile the SSM plans to make the final selection for the $4 billion, 145 third generation attack helicopter project on Feb. 17. There are rumors, however, that the selection may be delayed until the end of this month. There is further speculation that the SSM Executive Board, charged with making the final decision, may announce another short list rather than selecting one company in order to stir up the competition further. The stronger candidates are said to be the two competing U.S. companies and Kamov from Russia. The five short listed competitors are, Boeing's AH-64D Apache Long Bow (United States); Bell-Textron's AH-1Z King Cobra (United States); Agusta's A129-I (Italy), Eurocopter's Tiger (France); and Kamov's KA-50/52 (Russia). Israel's IAI is competing in cooperation with Russia, providing subsystems. The first delivery of helicopters is due in 2002, followed by an additional 50 and then a final delivery of 45 more. The value of the initial 50 helicopters are expected to amount to $2 billion. In a related development Turkish General Staff will hold its regular meeting late this month to re-evaluate the procurement projects as well as the financial resources available for future schemes. The devastating earthquake of Aug. 17 did not prevent the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) from going ahead with its major procurement schemes, since these require priority. (Turkish Daily News, Lale Sariibrahimoglu)
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Turkey
has been asking the foreign companies competing in its tenders for
billions of dollars worth of attack helicopter (ATAK) project, to
procure export license guarantees from their governments before the
final selection is made. The request will particularly affect the
companies from Germany and the United States that are competing in the
tender since neither of these countries, for political and technical
reasons, is able to issue export license guarantee letters before the
selection has been made. Ankara, however, is insisting that foreign
companies come up with strong assurances from their governments over the
transfer of the required technology for both projects if they want to
increase their chance of winning.