Turkey's military is considering dropping plans to produce an attack helicopter, Middle East News Online (MENL) reported Thursday.
Instead, military and defense officials are examining the prospect that Turkey will purchase helicopters from a Western contractor amid the nation's fiscal crisis, said the news service.
The review by the military of major defense procurement has been launched in response to the sharp drop in the Turkish lira and the need to obtain new Western loans. Defense sources said the military has agreed in principle to delay or cut major programs.
One option being explored, the sources said, is to abandon Turkey's plans to produce an attack helicopter, it added.
A tender for the coproduction of 145 helicopters has come down to two competitors, with the frontrunner being the US Bell Textron.
A contract for the production of 145 AH-1Z King Cobra attack helicopter was to have been completed this month. Instead, the fiscal crisis has thrown the estimated $4.5 billion program into disarray – Albawaba.com
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