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Gov't sees quick decision on attack helicopter contest(Turkish Daily News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) After decade-long efforts to co-produce/purchase scores of attack helicopters, Turkey's civilian defense procurement officials say that they are now very close to a final choice. However, some defense analysts say the procurement apparatus may face a military blockade. Having narrowed their attack helicopter competition to two contenders, the procurement officials hope to finalize this multibillion-dollar contract this fall. "We are almost at a decision-making stage," a top procurement official told the Turkish Daily News. "I expect we should be able to select a winner this September or October." On June 30 Turkey shortlisted South African and Italian contenders in the competition for an initial purchase of 30 attack helicopters. There is an option to acquire/co-produce an additional 20 platforms; but Ankara eventually plans to procure over 90 helicopter gunships. The initial batch of 30 helicopters will cost Turkey close to $1.5 billion. Turkey's top defense panel, the Defense Industry Executive Committee, ruled on June 30 that the government's procurement office would now continue to talk to Denel Aviation, maker of the CSH-2 Rooivalk; and Agusta Westland, maker of the Mangusta A129 International, for its attack helicopter program. The Turkish decision meant two other contenders had been disqualified from the competition. They are: EADS subsidiary Eurocopter, maker of the Tiger; and Russia's Kamov, maker of the KA-50/2 Black Shark. The procurement official said the proposals placed by AgustaWestland and Denel Aviation were close to each other in terms of price, local industry content and technicalities. "I am glad to have two very good proposals competing against each other," he said. "The final decision will be up to the progress of talks with both bidders." But an Ankara-based defense analyst said that things may not go as smoothly as the procurement office hopes. "There is a slight chance that the military, under new management, may push for a review," the analyst said. "We know that Gen. (Yasar) Buyukanit is not very sympathetic to the idea of having to choose between Italian and South African bidders. Of course there is the possibility that he may keep quiet in order to avoid friction with the government when there are other more important issues." Last week, Land Forces Commander Buyukanit took over from Army Gen. Hilmi Ozkok as chief of general staff. The end-user for the planned helicopters is the force Buyukanit commanded until last week, now headed by Army Gen. Ilker Basbug. A military official familiar with the program confirmed that there was "discontent" within the military about the two available options in the attack helicopter program. "None of the two remaining options fully satisfies the command from operational and technical viewpoints," the official said. "I don't think a swift decision, as early as this fall, is likely." AgustaWestland was formed by Italy's Agusta, part of Finmeccanica SpA, and Britain's GKN-Westland Helicopters in 2000. Originally designed by Agusta in 1978 for the Italian Army, the A129 Mangusta was the first attack helicopter wholly produced in Europe. Specifically for the export market, its A129 version was developed later. But so far the A129 has not scored any export success, and its sole user is the Italian Army. In the anti-armor role, the A129 can carry either Hellfire or TOW missiles, or a mixture of both. For the anti-aircraft role, Stinger or Mistral missiles can be carried Developed in the 1990s, Denel Aviation's AH-2 Rooivalk is being used by the South African Air Force and so far has not been exported. It can carry Mokopa long-range anti-armor missiles and Mistral air-to-air missiles Turkey's plans to buy scores of attack helicopters originally date back to the mid-1990s, but efforts so far have come to nothing. Turkey's new attack helicopter program for up to 50 platforms came after a similar project failed last year. In that now-defunct program, Turkey in 2000 selected Bell for coproduction of 50 AH-1Z King Cobras. But after four years of talks failed because of disputes on price, technology transfer and licensing problems, Ankara in May 2004 cancelled the whole process and decided to launch a new international tender. |