Turkey has selected US firm, M.D. Helicopter Inc., to supply 10 light helicopters for the police force, a deal worth $24 million, the Anatolia news agency reported Thursday, August 2.
Turkish police have already opened contract talks with the firm, which competed with Eurocopter of France, the Italian Agusta firm and Bell-Textron of the United States in the tender, the report said.
It said the contract would be signed when the Turkish treasury had approved a credit package, which M.D. Helicopter Inc. had secured from the US Eximbank and other commercial banks.
The prospective purchase is the first part of a bigger project, worth $270 million, to buy a total of 48 helicopters for the police.
The police force also wants to purchase 30 medium-weight helicopters and eight heavy helicopters. Both will be put out to tender once the first deal has been finalized, Anatolia said. ― (AFP, Ankara)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
