ANKARA - "The ATAK helicopter tender project has been actually assigned to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and will be realized by technological support from AgustaWestland and Aselsan's high performance," said Turkish Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gonul on Wednesday.
Aselsan and AgustaWestland signed a contract for Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance (ATAK) helicopters.
"As we placed a requirement in the ATAK helicopter tender that the mission computer will be placed by Turkey, many international companies did not wish to participate in the tender process. I am proud of Turkish engineering," stressed Gonul.
The aim of the ATAK helicopter procurement program is to meet attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter need of Turkish Land Forces by the integration of high-tech avionic equipment, of which hardware and software were developed and manufactured nationally, on the procured helicopters.
Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued on February 10th, 2005. AgustaWestland, Eurocopter, Denel and Rosoboronexport submitted their proposals on December 5th, 2005. It was decided in Defense Industry Committee meeting on June 22nd, 2006 to continue with AgustaWestland and Denel in the bid.
After the Defense Industry Executive Committee meeting on March 30th, 2007, it was decided to start contract negotiations with AgustaWestland as a result of evaluation of bids from AgustaWestland and Denel, that earlier had been shortlisted in ATAK Helicopter Project.
Under the project, procurement of 50 + 41 (optional) helicopters is targeted.
TAI will be the local prime contractor.