ATAK helicopters to wait, Turkey to get F-35s from USTuesday's Defense Industry Executive Committee delayed the final decision on a helicopter tender attended by a South African and an Italian firm, reinforcing the speculation that the tender may be canceled and the helicopters may be directly purchased from the U.S.
The committee, which is made up of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, decided to buy 100 F-35 stealth fighter jets while authorizing the defense industry undersecretary to hold talks for the purchase of 30 new F-16 warplanes.
The F-35 Lightning II, also called the joint strike fighter, will be assembled at Lockheed Martin's plant in Fort Worth, Texas.
However the committee, at request of the General Staff, decided to delay a final decision for the controversial Tactical and Reconnaissance Attack Helicopter Project (ATAK).
The General Staff asked for further tests on the helicopters, said Vecdi Gonul, adding that the final decision will be given in a couple of weeks.
The committee's meeting, and along with it the decision, on the ATAK tender had already been delayed two months ago due to the earlier sudden illness of the premier, who heads the committee.
The tender for the production of 50 helicopters -- 30 decided and 20 additional -- sparked controversy between the General Staff and the government, as the military is said to be not willing to approve either of the two firms remaining in the tender, Italian Agusta Westland and the South African Rooivalk.
Defense bureaucrats say that the recently passed French bill to penalize the denial of Armenian genocide claims in France will further complicate the decision process, as the South African company uses French engines.
Former Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, who retired four months ago, had expressed objection to the Italian firm.
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