The Turkish military quarters, lately, have suspended a major helicopter deal with the United States, estimated at $350 million.
Military sources were quoted by the Middle East Newsline (MENL) as saying that “the deal is for the procurement of CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters from the US firm Sikorsky.
Meanwhile, Turkey's military has announced, earlier this month, the suspension of 32 procurement projects that total $19.5 billion, giving no reasons.
The Sikorsky deal, however, marks the first Turkish military project with the United States that is being suspended.
The sources said that a far more lucrative deal -- the estimated $4.5 billion coproduction of the King Cobra helicopter by Bell Textron -- remains shrouded in uncertainty, it added.
Military sources said Turkey has been trying to maintain major defense projects with U.S. contractors.
Washington is regarded as a major supporter of Turkey's efforts to raise up to $15 billion in loans from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, said MENL.
However, States economic minister Kemal Dervis is lobbying the institutions to approve the loans, which is being discussed by the two institutions in Washington upon Turkey’s loan request – Albawaba.com
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