Turks freeze AH-1Z order

Well well, whaddya expect. How long has this contract been open for, centuries? Wonder when they’ll finally close it.
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JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – OCTOBER 08, 2003

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Confusion over Turkish attack helicopter project
LALE SARIIBRAHIMOGLU JDW Correspondent
Ankara

Confusion has followed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that he has frozen the acquisition of 50 AH-1Z King Cobra attack helicopters from US manufacturer Bell Helicopter-Textron.

The project has been stalled by protracted negotiations centred primarily on the costs and risks associated with local production of key components of the helicopters (Jane’s Defence Weekly 20 August). The project to build the King Cobras, all but the first few aircraft in Turkey, is expected to cost about $2 billion.

Erdogan reportedly told a group of officials from local prime contractor Turkish Aerospace Industries, Bell, and subcontractor Northrop Grumman (responsible for the AH-1Z’s mission computer) on 30 September that he had decided to freeze the project due to the high cost and restrictions on technology transfer being imposed by the US. “I have got too many more things that have to be taken care of before I spend money on defence,” Erdogan reportedly said.

The move came as a surprise to Bell, the Turkish Defence Industries Undersecretariat and Turkey’s armed forces. A Turkish general told JDW that he did not know how to interpret the prime minister’s action.

During a television interview on 2 October, Erdogan said: “The whole issue for Turkey is to be able to produce advanced technologies. If necessary, we should be able to sell them to third countries.”

A Turkish defence industry source told JDW that Erdogan’s office has investigated whether Turkey needs attack helicopters, given the country’s continuing economic problems. He also suggested that Erdogan’s decision may be intended to pressure Bell to reduce its price.

Turkey has completed discussions with a Kamov/Israel Aircraft Industries team over the pricing of the Ka-50-2 attack helicopter as an alternative should negotiations with Bell finally collapse.

Bell officials in Ankara did not want to comment on Erdogan’s statement. However, the company has apparently been told by Defence Minister Vecdi Gönül not to be alarmed.

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