PanARMENIAN.Net
Israel will help Turkey to watch over Kurds
28.12.2007 16:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Israeli defense contractors plan to
deliver to Turkey within weeks 10 unmanned aircraft
that will be used, among other things, in
intelligence-gathering operations against Kurdish
rebels, an Israeli official familiar with the deal
said Thursday.
As part of the $190 million (134 million) deal with
the Turkish Air Force, signed several years ago,
Israeli crews will provide training and technical
support for the Heron systems, the official said. A
malfunction in a camera system manufactured for the
drones by a Turkish subcontractor has held up
delivery, but the problems are expected to be worked
out soon, he said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because
he wasn’t authorized to discuss the deal with the
media. State-run Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. is
lead contractor for the project, which also includes
Israel’s Elbit Systems Ltd. and Turkey’s Aselsan.
The IAI wouldn’t comment on whether Israeli crews
would be involved in Turkish operations against the
Kurds.