Turkey’s procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), will soon finalise a deal with the US to buy six Boeing-built CH-47 heavy lift military transport helicopters, a senior procurement official said.
The deal with the US was originally finalised in January 2010 for 14 helicopters, but due to financial constraints SSM has decided to procure only six helicopters for the Turkish Army.
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The Hürriyet Daily News has quoted the procurement official as saying, “Now the contract talks almost have come to an end, and are expected to be concluded very soon. The total price is expected to be over $300m.
“After the helicopters begin to arrive, we plan to make some modifications on them according to suit our specific needs,” the official added.
The six CH-47F Chinooks will be the first heavy lift helicopters in the Turkish Army’s inventory with deliveries expected to begin in 2013.
The CH-47F is the latest model and upgraded version of the CH-47D capable of carrying up to 60 troops and personnel.
