Turkish
and US defense staff agreed on an memorandum for correspondence about
delivering of 2 Patriot Tactical Missile Defense battery to Turkey
during the visit of US President Clinton. Turkey insists on donation of
two ex-US Army Patriot battery due to the fact that increasing Arabic
missile threat against Turkey after US-Turkish alliance post-Gulf War
era. However, It is still not clear that US Government transfers used
PAC-2 systems or decide to sell more advanced PAC-3 system to Turkey.
Turkey will deploy the Patriots in the Southeastern Anatolia.
Additionally, according to the new Turkish-American missile technology agreement, 3 high priority military staff will go to the US for
discussion about missile thread to Turkey and study on joint projects at
the end of November. US defense staff will present a "ballistic
missile threat to Turkey" report and organize regular
"ballistic missile countermeasure systems" courses for attendance
of Turkish military staff. Meanwhile, Turkey and US
military members will negotiate about partnership of Turkey to
US-Israeli Arrow 2 next-generation ATBMS during "High Level Defense
Meeting" in December.
Last
F-16C/D Block 50 delivered to Turkish Air Forces (Nov.
12)
Last
of 80 TAI/Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 50 delivered to Turkish
Air Forces under the Peace Onyx II project. The new F-16s has
been operated at 151st and 152nd squadrons
at 5th Air Base Command, Merzifon. As the completion
of Peace Onyx I and II programs, Turkish Air Forces have 231
F-16C/D (35 Block 30, 116 Block 40 and 80 Block 50), which are
currently flying on 10 squadrons at 5 air bases. There is a plan
to produce new Batch of 32 F-16C/D under a program of Peace Onyx
III covering 12 Block 50+ for sustaining attrition lost of 9
F-16 Block 30/40 and 20 Reconnaissance version to replace
old-RF-4E fleets in mid-future.
General
Staff canceled the SPEWS II ECM contract of the MIKES A.Ş. (Nov.
9)
The
Turkish General Staff had decided to cancel its major electronic warfare
(EW) contract with the Turkish company Mikes A.Ş. and start
negotiations with second competitor, Aselsan-France team . Turkish Air Force had
cancelled the contract on account of Mikes' failure to meet the contract
conditions and because of the Turkish company's substantial debt,
Turkish defense industry sources said. On
August, 1998, Turkey's Defense Industries Undersecretariat (UTDI/SSM) awarded
Mikes and Lockheed Martin a $223 million contract for 80 electronic
warfare systems, including the ALQ-178V (5) Raport III system that uses
active and passive jammers. The contract with Mikes was signed on 23rd
March, 1999. Under Turkey's new
defense industry strategy companies that produce critical technologies
have to be locally owned. Mikes is 46 percent owned by Lockheed Martin,
and the sale of that share to a local company was not carried out due to
Mikes's substantial debts. In
addition, the company failed to obtain licenses in the 60 days
stipulated in the contract for the equipment that it needs to import for
the EW systems. Another problem that
prompted the General Staff to cancel the contract with Mikes was the
company's significant debt, which scared off all potential buyers of the
foreign stake including the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and Aselsan,
Turkish defense industry sources stated.
Turkey
cancelled the Penguin 2 Mod 7 ASM order (Nov.
9)
The
Turkish Navy has recommended scrapping plans to buy Norwegian Penguin
helicopter-launched anti-ship missiles. In a letter to the Turkish
Defense Industries Undersecretariat (SSM), the Turkish Navy Command
announced that the project was no longer viable following the Norwegian
government's failure to authorize the missiles' export papers in time
for the Oct. 16 deadline. Although Turkey and Norwegian manufacturer
Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace (KDA) signed a NKr305 million ($44
million) agreement for 16 Penguin Mk 2 Mod 7 anti-ship missiles for 4
first batch of new S-70B28 helicopters in July 1999, Turkey will
officially notify the Norwegian manufacturer of the cancellation by the
end of the year, according to a senior SSM source. Norway's center-right
minority government has not completely ruled out the sale of the
missiles, and Turkey believes Norway may reverse its decision if it sees
an improvement in Turkey's human rights record .The
Turkish Navy is now considering Boeing's AGM-84 Harpoon long-range
anti-ship missile and the European tri-national fiber-optic-guided
missile (TRIFOM) consortium's Polyphem missile. A delegation from
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace recently visited Ankara to brief the Turkish
military on the Polyphem. The sale of Polyphem would, however, require
permission from the German government, which is concerned about Turkey's
human rights record.
RfIs for Radar Warning Receiver/Radio Frequency (RWR/RF) Jammer and Laser Warning Receiver (LWR) has been
released (Nov.
7)
Turkish Land Forces Helicopter Electronic Warfare Suite (HEWS) Program has been started to
fulfill the electronic warfare requirements of the different air platforms.
RfIs for the RWR/RF Jammer System and LWR are issued for the HEWS Program for Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC). The first stage of the program is to release these RFI documents to evaluate the capabilities of Electronic Warfare Systems Companies and to understand how the requirements of Turkish Land Forces will be met with existing or developing systems. The second stage is to release a Request for Proposal to determine the company that will take part in the program according to the acquisition and implementation model to be defined by SSM. SSM expects that all two phases will be completed by February 2000. Deadline for responses to
RfI to be reached at SSM are 10th of December 1999 for RWR and RF Jammer 10th of December 1999 for LWR.
Sikorsky
wins the Cargo helicopter bid (Nov.
4)
The
US Sikorsky firm has won the bid to supply Turkey with eight
cargo-carrying helicopters. Sikorsky's CH-53E "Super
Stallion", worth $345 million won against the Mi-26 of Russian
Kazan which
had proposed a sum of $120 million for the eight helicopters. The fourth
time tendered heavy lift helicopter requirement of Turkish Armed Forces
had taken into an "open discounting session" on September, a
little after which Boeing Helicopters decided not to participate in with
its CH-47SD. The bids had started at over $400 million for 8 platforms
complete with a two year logistic and training package, and ended at
$380 million. Sikorsky was selected by its Best & Final Offer
(B&FO) which worth $345 million. It is expected that the CH-53Es
will be delivered between 2000-2001 due to the urgent needs of Turkey. There is a strong possibility that
the agreement may be extended to transfer of ex-USMC older Stallions
which can be upgraded with Israel-US-Turkey partnership for Heavy
Combat-SAR and Cargo roles. Total needs of Turkish Armed Forces for
Cargo Helicopter is 20 in future.
British
Aerospace Achieves Major Milestone in Turkish Frigate Program (Nov.
3)
British
Aerospace's program to provide advanced air defense radar
for the Turkish Navy's MEKO 200TN frigates is set to achieve a
further significant milestone. Trials of the AWS-9(3D) and
AWS-6 radar will begin on the second of the TRACK IIB vessels
(F-247) prior to entry into service.
The AWS-9(3-D) - supplied under contract to Blohm & Voss
of Germany - provides long-range surveillance and target
indication data, while the AWS-6 is used within the Seaguard
Close-In Weapon System (CIWS). The S-Band AWS-9(3-D) is part
of the AWS family of naval surveillance and target indication
radar systems, similar to that in service with the UK Royal
Navy. Capable of multi-role operations, it supplies wide
vertical coverage coupled with automatic track initiation and
detection capability matched to the ship's weapon systems. The
C-Band AWS-6 provides fast and accurate target indication data
to the Seaguard CIWS. The lightweight stabilized antenna and
below-decks electronics are optimized to the needs of the
Seaguard CIWS.
Turkish-UK team
emerges as latest bidder for British FCLVrequirement(Nov.
3)
Turkish-UK
team emerges as latest bidder for FCLV. Another contender for the
British Army's Future Command and Liaison Vehicle (FCLV) competition has
emerged with the teaming of UK-based DSD and Otokar, the largest
manufacturer of wheeled armoured fighting vehicles in Turkey. There is a
strong potential that this team will be powerful contender for Turkish
Land Forces' Future Requirement for nearly 2000 6x6 and 8x8 Wheeled
Armoured Fighting Vehicles.
Turkish
and US defense staff agreed on an memorandum for correspondence about
delivering of 2 Patriot Tactical Missile Defense battery to Turkey
during the visit of US President Clinton. Turkey insists on donation of
two ex-US Army Patriot battery due to the fact that increasing Arabic
missile threat against Turkey after US-Turkish alliance post-Gulf War
era. However, It is still not clear that US Government transfers used
PAC-2 systems or decide to sell more advanced PAC-3 system to Turkey.
Turkey will deploy the Patriots in the Southeastern Anatolia.
Additionally, according to the new Turkish-American missile technology agreement, 3 high priority military staff will go to the US for
discussion about missile thread to Turkey and study on joint projects at
the end of November. US defense staff will present a "ballistic
missile threat to Turkey" report and organize regular
"ballistic missile countermeasure systems" courses for attendance
of Turkish military staff. Meanwhile, Turkey and US
military members will negotiate about partnership of Turkey to
US-Israeli Arrow 2 next-generation ATBMS during "High Level Defense
Meeting" in December.
Last
of 80 TAI/Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 50 delivered to Turkish
Air Forces under the Peace Onyx II project. The new F-16s has
been operated at 151st and 152nd squadrons
at 5th Air Base Command, Merzifon. As the completion
of Peace Onyx I and II programs, Turkish Air Forces have 231
F-16C/D (35 Block 30, 116 Block 40 and 80 Block 50), which are
currently flying on 10 squadrons at 5 air bases. There is a plan
to produce new Batch of 32 F-16C/D under a program of Peace Onyx
III covering 12 Block 50+ for sustaining attrition lost of 9
F-16 Block 30/40 and 20 Reconnaissance version to replace
old-RF-4E fleets in mid-future.
The
Turkish General Staff had decided to cancel its major electronic warfare
(EW) contract with the Turkish company Mikes A.Ş. and start
negotiations with second competitor, Aselsan-France team . Turkish Air Force had
cancelled the contract on account of Mikes' failure to meet the contract
conditions and because of the Turkish company's substantial debt,
Turkish defense industry sources said. On
August, 1998, Turkey's Defense Industries Undersecretariat (UTDI/SSM) awarded
Mikes and Lockheed Martin a $223 million contract for 80 electronic
warfare systems, including the ALQ-178V (5) Raport III system that uses
active and passive jammers. The contract with Mikes was signed on 23rd
March, 1999. Under Turkey's new
defense industry strategy companies that produce critical technologies
have to be locally owned. Mikes is 46 percent owned by Lockheed Martin,
and the sale of that share to a local company was not carried out due to
Mikes's substantial debts. In
addition, the company failed to obtain licenses in the 60 days
stipulated in the contract for the equipment that it needs to import for
the EW systems. Another problem that
prompted the General Staff to cancel the contract with Mikes was the
company's significant debt, which scared off all potential buyers of the
foreign stake including the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and Aselsan,
Turkish defense industry sources stated.
The
Turkish Navy has recommended scrapping plans to buy Norwegian Penguin
helicopter-launched anti-ship missiles. In a letter to the Turkish
Defense Industries Undersecretariat (SSM), the Turkish Navy Command
announced that the project was no longer viable following the Norwegian
government's failure to authorize the missiles' export papers in time
for the Oct. 16 deadline. Although Turkey and Norwegian manufacturer
Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace (KDA) signed a NKr305 million ($44
million) agreement for 16 Penguin Mk 2 Mod 7 anti-ship missiles for 4
first batch of new S-70B28 helicopters in July 1999, Turkey will
officially notify the Norwegian manufacturer of the cancellation by the
end of the year, according to a senior SSM source. Norway's center-right
minority government has not completely ruled out the sale of the
missiles, and Turkey believes Norway may reverse its decision if it sees
an improvement in Turkey's human rights record .
Turkish Land Forces Helicopter Electronic Warfare Suite (HEWS) Program has been started to
fulfill the electronic warfare requirements of the different air platforms.
RfIs for the RWR/RF Jammer System and LWR are issued for the HEWS Program for Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC). The first stage of the program is to release these RFI documents to evaluate the capabilities of Electronic Warfare Systems Companies and to understand how the requirements of Turkish Land Forces will be met with existing or developing systems. The second stage is to release a Request for Proposal to determine the company that will take part in the program according to the acquisition and implementation model to be defined by SSM. SSM expects that all two phases will be completed by February 2000. Deadline for responses to
RfI to be reached at SSM are 10th of December 1999 for RWR and RF Jammer 10th of December 1999 for LWR.
The
US Sikorsky firm has won the bid to supply Turkey with eight
cargo-carrying helicopters. Sikorsky's CH-53E "Super
Stallion", worth $345 million won against the Mi-26 of Russian
Kazan which
had proposed a sum of $120 million for the eight helicopters. The fourth
time tendered heavy lift helicopter requirement of Turkish Armed Forces
had taken into an "open discounting session" on September, a
little after which Boeing Helicopters decided not to participate in with
its CH-47SD. The bids had started at over $400 million for 8 platforms
complete with a two year logistic and training package, and ended at
$380 million. Sikorsky was selected by its Best & Final Offer
(B&FO) which worth $345 million. It is expected that the CH-53Es
will be delivered between 2000-2001 due to the urgent needs of Turkey. There is a strong possibility that
the agreement may be extended to transfer of ex-USMC older Stallions
which can be upgraded with Israel-US-Turkey partnership for Heavy
Combat-SAR and Cargo roles. Total needs of Turkish Armed Forces for
Cargo Helicopter is 20 in future.
British
Aerospace's program to provide advanced air defense radar
for the Turkish Navy's MEKO 200TN frigates is set to achieve a
further significant milestone. Trials of the AWS-9(3D) and
AWS-6 radar will begin on the second of the TRACK IIB vessels
(F-247) prior to entry into service.
Turkish-UK
team emerges as latest bidder for FCLV. Another contender for the
British Army's Future Command and Liaison Vehicle (FCLV) competition has
emerged with the teaming of UK-based DSD and Otokar, the largest
manufacturer of wheeled armoured fighting vehicles in Turkey. There is a
strong potential that this team will be powerful contender for Turkish
Land Forces' Future Requirement for nearly 2000 6x6 and 8x8 Wheeled
Armoured Fighting Vehicles.