Eurocopter and Boeing dropped from Turkish helicopter tender
ANKARA, March 6 (AFP) - 12:11 GMT - Turkey eliminated the US firm Boeing and Franco-German joint venture Eurocopter on Monday from a lucrative attack helicopter tender, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit announced.
Italy's Agusta, American Bell-Textron and a joint venture between Russia's Kamov and Israeli Aircraft Industries remained on the shortlist for the contract, estimated to be worth about four billion dollars.
The projects of "Eurocopter and Boeing have been considered inadequate," Ecevit said after a meeting with military and defense industry officials on the tender for 145 attack helicopters.
"The offers of the other three will be evaluated anew because certain inadequacies, defficiencies and unclear points have been found," Ecevit said.
"I believe we will have the outcome in a short time... after the technical evaluation is completed," he added.
The winner of the tender, which will manufacture the helicopters in a joint venture with the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), will transfer a certain part of the technology to its Turkish partner.
"Turkey will manufacture its own original helicopter by benefitting from the models of developed countries. Additions will be made (to the winning project) in accordance to Turkey's needs," Ecevit said.
Turkey will have no difficulties in funding the project, he added.
The tender, aimed at boosting the capabilities of Turkey's powerful army, was opened in 1997.