While demanding an Israeli apology for the flotilla interception which turned violent, Turkey looks to complete an Elbit Systems deal from 2004.
Turkish daily "Today's Zaman" reports that remaining four Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) out of ten that Turkey ordered from Israel are expected to be delivered in August. The Herons are manufactured by Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1).
"Today's Zaman" added that the first six Herons were delivered to Turkey in March 2010, after a delay of over two years. Turkey signed the $180 million contract for ten Herons in 2004.
The Turkish Army is apparently deploying the Herons in its war against the Turkish Kurdish rebel group, PKK. The Turkish government is still demanding that Israel apologize and pay compensation for the nine Turkish citizens killed when the Israel Navy intercepted the Gaza flotilla in May.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel will not accede to these demands.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 11, 2010
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