Turkish daily "Today's Zaman" reports that Israel has finally agreed to send additional electronic systems to Turkey, which will integrate those systems into its Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) military aircraft purchased from the US. It adds that the systems are now at a Turkish Aerospace Industries facility in Ankara. The integration of the additional parts into the AWACS aircraft will be completed in the next few weeks.
"Today's Zaman" quotes a senior defense official as saying that Boeing, the manufacturer of the planes that are part of the system, had to intervene. “Boeing told Israel that their refusal to complete the delivery was hurting their business, and Israel agreed to deliver the equipment," he said.
The deal was signed in 2002, when Turkey ordered four Boeing 737-700 AWACS planes. Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) subsidiary Elta Systems won the contract to supply the electronics systems in a deal worth more than $100 million.
Israel supplied two systems, but, in 2011, refused to supply the remaining two systems, following the tensions with Turkey in the wake of the Gaza flotilla incident. Israel has now decided to supply the systems, possibly signaling a thaw in relations.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 18, 2013
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013