buglerbilly
07-05-10, 02:56 AM
By UMIT ENGINSOY and BURAK EGE BEKDIL
Published: 6 May 2010 17:18
ANKARA - A preliminary agreement to sell 250 armored personnel carriers to the Malaysian Army would be the Turkish defense industry's largest single export deal, a senior Turkish procurement official said May 6.
The letter of intent was signed in mid-April by FNSS, based here, and the Malaysian government. The two sides are expected to sign a formal contract soon, said the official.
FNSS is a joint venture between Turkey's Nurol Holding, the majority partner, and U.S.-based BAE Systems Land & Armaments.
The vehicle, the eight-wheel-drive Pars, will be coproduced with Malaysian partners in Malaysia.
"With planned follow-on orders, the program is expected to become much larger, and FNSS' share is expected to exceed $500 million," the Turkish procurement official said.
FNSS originally developed the Pars for the Turkish military. Last year, the Turkish Army ordered more than 1,000 Pars vehicles in different variants, and the Navy ordered more than 50 amphibious vehicles.
Turkish defense officials view the Malaysian deal as a breakthrough in efforts to win larger-scale foreign contracts. The United Arab Emirates also is testing the Pars, the senior procurement official said.
Otokar, another leading Turkish company, also has exported armored vehicles to more than 10 countries in the Balkans, the Middle East and southeastern Asia. But its individual contracts have been smaller than FNSS' Malaysia deal. Otokar was selected to develop Turkey's first indigenous main battle tank, the Altay.
"The making of armored vehicles is one of the strongest sectors in our defense industry," said Kaya Yazgan, secretary general of Turkey's Defense Industry Manufacturers Association, or SaSaD, an umbrella group bringing together defense companies.
Published: 6 May 2010 17:18
ANKARA - A preliminary agreement to sell 250 armored personnel carriers to the Malaysian Army would be the Turkish defense industry's largest single export deal, a senior Turkish procurement official said May 6.
The letter of intent was signed in mid-April by FNSS, based here, and the Malaysian government. The two sides are expected to sign a formal contract soon, said the official.
FNSS is a joint venture between Turkey's Nurol Holding, the majority partner, and U.S.-based BAE Systems Land & Armaments.
The vehicle, the eight-wheel-drive Pars, will be coproduced with Malaysian partners in Malaysia.
"With planned follow-on orders, the program is expected to become much larger, and FNSS' share is expected to exceed $500 million," the Turkish procurement official said.
FNSS originally developed the Pars for the Turkish military. Last year, the Turkish Army ordered more than 1,000 Pars vehicles in different variants, and the Navy ordered more than 50 amphibious vehicles.
Turkish defense officials view the Malaysian deal as a breakthrough in efforts to win larger-scale foreign contracts. The United Arab Emirates also is testing the Pars, the senior procurement official said.
Otokar, another leading Turkish company, also has exported armored vehicles to more than 10 countries in the Balkans, the Middle East and southeastern Asia. But its individual contracts have been smaller than FNSS' Malaysia deal. Otokar was selected to develop Turkey's first indigenous main battle tank, the Altay.
"The making of armored vehicles is one of the strongest sectors in our defense industry," said Kaya Yazgan, secretary general of Turkey's Defense Industry Manufacturers Association, or SaSaD, an umbrella group bringing together defense companies.