Turkey to make chopper, air defense selections in 2011

In 2011, Turkey will select the foreign winners of its billion-dollar tenders for both utility helicopters and long-range air and missile defense systems as part of a drive to bolster its defense procurement assets.

The Defense Industry Executive, Turkey's top decision-making body for defense procurement, was widely expected to choose the winner – either Italy and Britain’s AugustaWestland or the United States’ Sikorsky Aircraft – for the $4 billion, 109-aircraft utility helicopter program at its last meeting in mid-December, but the decision was not announced.

"The offers by Sikorsky Aircraft and AgustaWestland were insufficient," Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül said after the Dec. 15 meeting, adding that the main point of disagreement was the price. "Talks with both companies will continue, but we think that they should cut down their prices.”

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