Turkey reaches 'certain clarity' on national missile defense system

Turkey has reached "certain clarity" on the decision for a tender on its long-range missile defense system, Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) head ?smail Demir has said.

"We are reviewing several parameters. We want to make a decision without a further extension," he said, speaking at a Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) panel on Oct. 26.

The negotiations over Turkey's long-range missile defense system were held up by technical reasons, not because Turkey was stalling or had changed its mind, the chief procurement officer added. 

A reversal in the procurement is out of question, but the talks have moved beyond initial price point or technical requirement discussions to the parameters of "what can we do with whom and with whom can Turkey have long-term cooperation," Demir said. 

"In this procurement process, Turkey wants several of its actors in the industry to get involved, get into partnerships when necessary and gain maximum technical competence while working with foreign actors," he stated.  

One of the offers included a financial model but two others did not, Demir said, noting obtaining financing was advantageous but there were no financing problems for this project, therefore a financing package was not "essential" at the moment. 

The deputy chairman of Turkish defense producer Aselsan, Mustafa Kaval, for his part, said earlier bids had not included much technology transfer and were composed of production packages, adding the current negotiations were continuing with an "increasing technology transfer" focus.

Ankara selected a Chinese company in September 2013 to build its air defense architecture, but immediately came under heavy pressure from its Western allies for the...

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