Turkey signs drone deal with Israeli firms

4/19/2005 3:00:00 PM GMT


Turkey signed a $200 million deal with two Israeli companies to buy a network of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground stations.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry chose the Israel Aircraft Industries and Elbit System over U.S. and French companies.

The U.S. General Atomic offered the Turkish army with the Predator UAV, which was used by the U.S. military in the Balkan wars and Iraq.

Under the contract, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) will supply the Turkish army with the Heron UAV, while Elbit will provide the ground stations and communications systems for the drone.

The agreement involves 10 ground stations, and between 30 and 40 UAV’s. The Turkish military, navy and air forces will all use them.

According to industry officials, a Turkish aerospace subsidiary Tusash will be the Turkish partner with Elbit Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries, taking about 75 percent of the deal.

The agreement was expected to be announced next month during Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Israel. But media leaks in Ankara revealed the signing of the contract Monday.

The Heron UAV is a multi-role drone used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions and designed to provide real-time strategic intelligence.

Heron has a range of 1,000 kilometers and is capable of carrying a 250-kilogram payload. With a 16-meter wingspan, the Heron can fly for 52 hours continuously and can reach an altitude of 30,000 feet, according to IAI.

Turkey has in the past bought Harpy killer drones from Israel. Elbit and IAI have also cooperated in the past on several Turkish defense deals including the development of Turkey’s F-4 fighter jets.