ANKARA, Feb 11 (A.A) - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Monday that Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and his Ministry saved 89 trillion liras in electricity, water and fuel oil payments and 471,6 trillion liras in other current account expenses last year as a result of the effective measures.
These savings were transferred to the Defense Industry Support Fund to meet the sources of TSK's modernization projects, said Cakmakoglu in the news conference he held about the activities of the Ministry in 2001.
The Ministry Undersecretariat was re-organized last year, and the number of deputy undersecretaries was increased from two to three, he said.
Cakmakoglu said that the budget of the ministry was increased by 23,9 percent when compared to the previous year, adding that 41 projects went into force last year to meet the needs of TSK from abroad. The negotiations for 47 others continued, he said adding that 88 projects were postponed.
Cakmakoglu noted that Israel produced 23 planes within the scope of the project of modernizing 54 F-4 planes, adding that the modernization of three planes continued.
Noting that the recovery project regarding 162 Leopard 1 A1/A1A4 tanks' shooting control systems was signed between Military Electronics Industry and Trade Inc. (ASELSAN) and Defense Industry Undersecretariat, Cakmakoglu said that the project is expected to be completed in a period of 26 months.
Cakmakoglu said that the negotiations with Israel concerning the modernization of 170 M60 A1 tanks continued, adding that the contract negotiations with the U.S. Bell-Textron firm continued for buying 50 helicopters within the scope of Attack/Tactics Reconnaissance Helicopters (ATAK) Project. Cakmakoglu said the contract will be signed in June, adding that the first helicopter will join the TSK in 2005 and the last one in 2009.