WASHINGTON D.C. (A.A) - 13.08.2002 - The U.S. Congress ratified on Tuesday the sale of four airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircrafts to Turkey.
The contract signed by Turkey and Boeing company in June worth of 1.1 billion U.S. dollars was presented to the U.S. Congress at the end of July.
In order to fulfil such a commercial purchase under weapon export laws of the United States, the Congress should not face any objection within 15 days of evaluation. Since there was not any objection to sale of AWACS aircrafts to Turkey within 15 days of evaluation, the Congress automatically ratified the contract.
Boeing company spokesman Dave Sloan told A.A correspondent that the U.S. Department of State was still working on final formalities and said that they expected the contract to be put into practice in fall.
However, 15 days of evaluation was not totally unproblematic. Sources said that Paul Sarbanes, a senator from Democrat Party and a leading name of Greek-Greek Cypriot lobby, had a tendency of objection after a statement about the contract was made. However, Sarbanes was convinced as he learned that the radar of the aircraft would be produced in his state Maryland by Nortrop Grumman company, and then, he approved the contract.
Turkish Air Forces will have the opportunity and capability of observing all military activities in its region after AWACS started to be used in Turkey in coming years. In short, these aircrafts named AWACS is used by armed forces of most developed countries in the world.