Turkey's military is expected to retain US firms deemed as frontrunners in at least two major defense projects, said Middle East Newsline (MENL).
Defense sources close to the military were quoted by the agency as saying that “Ankara will not scuttle projects in which the US frontrunners have already been named.”
Sources added that “the aim is to retain US administration and congressional support for the up to $12 billion requested by Turkey for its economic recovery.”
According to MENL, Turkey's military has announced a delay in 32 procurement projects worth $19.5 billion. But the military did not specify which project would be shelved.
The two projects to be retained by Turkey are the attack helicopter project. Bell Textron has been named as the frontrunner in the $4.5 billion coproduction project. Turkish sources said the military appears to support a plan that would delay production in Turkey and instead purchase 50 King Cobra helicopters, it added – Albawaba.com
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