Turkey fines US company over chopper delay

**~~denizkuvetleri~~** · 20 Jan 11,, 13:01

Turkey fines US company over chopper delay
WORLD BULLETIN- TURKEY NEWS, WORLD NEWS - Turkey fines US company over chopper delay

Turkey has demanded an extra Sikorsky S-70B from the American company Sikorsky Aircraft for not delivering previously ordered choppers on time.
World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey has demanded an extra Sikorsky S-70B from the American company Sikorsky Aircraft for not delivering previously ordered choppers on time.

The Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) had previously ordered 24 Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk medium transport/utility helicopters from the US-based aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft in 2005. Sikorsky had delivered seven of the ordered helicopters but was not able deliver the remaining 17 choppers on time despite the fact that they had already been paid for by Turkey.

For the first time in history, Turkey has demanded one more Sikorsky S-70B helicopter from the company as a fine for not delivering the helicopters on time, a Ministry of Defense official told Cihan news agency, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

In this way, Turkey will receive 25 helicopters for the price of 24. Experts from the Ministry of Defense underlined this is the first time that Turkey has fined a US company. “Turkey's position gets stronger over time,” the same source said.

The SSM had ordered the helicopters for the Turkish Naval Forces. Seven of the preordered choppers have been delivered so far, but the remaining 17 were supposed to be delivered to Turkey at the beginning of 2010. Sikorsky announced that there would be a three-month delay in the deliveries but still they were not able to deliver the choppers. For the first time the Ministry of Defense demanded one more chopper as a fine from the US-based company for not delivering an order on time. Even though the American Sikorsky was not eager to accept this demand, after much negotiation they agreed to give one more Sikorsky S-70B type helicopter.

WORLD BULLETIN- TURKEY NEWS, WORLD NEWS , printed on 20.01.2011.

Turkey has an upper hand with Sikorsky because Sikorsky is in another Turkish tender for the licenced production of 109 (+ 300 option) helicopters worth several billions of US dollars.

The Sikorsky S-70B is to be used with Turkey's new generation MILGEM class stealth Corvettes/Frigates (below).

**T_igger_cs_30** · 20 Jan 11,, 15:08

Good for Turkey, thats exactly whats needed with defence contractors, the reason the British MOD is in such a mess is exactly because of this. Delays, cost over runs and absolutely no penalties imposed for breaking the contract.

**zraver** · 20 Jan 11,, 15:31

Sikorsky better have a good reason for the delays, contracts are sacred in the US.

**~~denizkuvetleri~~** · 20 Jan 11,, 15:40

Originally Posted by zraver

Sikorsky better have a good reason for the delays, contracts are sacred in the US.

Turkey is having the same problems with many US firms. Boeing is also facing a similar fine in relation to the B-737 MESA AWACS Turkey had ordered. It is 1.5 years late. Turkey is demanding an extra aircraft.

**Stitch** · 20 Jan 11,, 17:29

Originally Posted by T_igger_cs_30

Good for Turkey, thats exactly whats needed with defence contractors, the reason the British MOD is in such a mess is exactly because of this. Delays, cost over runs and absolutely no penalties imposed for breaking the contract.

I had heard that part of the reason their HC3's aren't flying is because the MOD chose not to order the correct avionics software from Boeing for the new helicopters, instead deciding to develop the software indigenously with the resulting consequences.