MOSCOW, July 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had announced that Russia might have another chance at a tender on the sale of helicopters to Turkey.
"I was pleased to hear that the prime minister considered the possibility of allowing Russian manufacturers to participate in a tender on the sale of helicopters to Turkey," Putin said after a meeting with Erdogan in Sochi.
According to Putin, defense-technology cooperation between Russia and Turkey is practically "non-existent" at present.
"Turkish customers show obvious interest in Russian-made equipment and armaments," Putin said.
In turn, Erdogan said the Turkish defense ministry had received a letter from a Russian company showing its interest in the helicopter tender. In 1997, the Turkish government announced a tender after Bell, a U.S. manufacturer, failed to supply its King Cobra attack helicopters to Turkey. The Turkish government decided to look for other suppliers, announcing an open tender.
Five companies participated in the tender, including Kamov (Russian helicopter manufacturer) with its Ka-50-2 Erdogan and Bell with its King Cobra (with approval by the U.S. Congress). The two companies formed the so-called "short list," and Turkish defense officials initially favored the Russian model.
Kamov and its Israeli partner, Israel Aviation Industries, managed to adapt the Ka-52 Alligator base model to NATO standards. However, Turkish authorities decided to buy King Cobras instead and signed a contract with Bell.
