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Disappointed with Turkey's elimination of the French-German Eurocopter consortium from its $4 billion attack helicopter co-production project French President Jacques Chirac has reportedly decided to suspend his state visit to Turkey this spring. Chirac, who is currently attempting to prevent the French Senate from including the so-called Armenian genocide bill in its agenda, is said to have expressed his disappointment over Eurocopter's elimination to Turkish President Suleyman Demirel. But French Foreign Ministry sources denied that, saying only that there are no exact dates for Chirac's visit as yet. Turkey decided to eliminate U.S. Boeing, competing with the Apache, and Eurocopter, competing with the Tiger, from its attack helicopter project at an Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) Executive Board meeting on March 6. U.S. Bell-Textron (AH-IZ King Cobra), Italy's Agusta (A129-I) as well as Russia's Kamov, competing jointly with Israel's IAI, (KA-50/52-Erdogan) are shortlisted for the tender. There are now speculations that the final bidder may be announced either in early April or in the first half of June depending on political developments in Turkey. (Turkish Daily News, Lale Sariibrahimoglu)
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Turkey's
$11 billion attack helicopter and tank projects have been deeply
politicized and turned into a matter of honor for both Turkey and
the countries whose companies are involved in them.