Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
The Turkish air force is criticising US technology export restrictions, claiming they are threatening contractual negotiations for six Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems, and undermining an electronic warfare (EW) upgrade of the country's license-built Lockheed MartinF-16 fighters. Turkey's complaints about AEW&C technology access echo Australia's concerns when it opened contractual negotiations for 737 AEW&C in 1999.
The issue revolves around Turkish insistence on full access to source codes to ensure support self sufficiency for the AEW&C aircraft. Competitors were asked to supply software access as part of the request for proposals.
"Boeing is not completely backing its commitments," says Maj Gen Aktug Atay, Turkish air force, chief plans and principles. "Continuation of this may jeopardise the programme," he told an American-Turkish Council conference in Washington DC.
The problem lies with the US Government rather than with Boeing. The former is negotiating the $200 million foreign military sales element of the deal and has placed restrictions on the transfer of sensitive technology.
Industry sources express surprise the issue has come up again, particularly in the wake of the Australian problems and subsequent review of rules governing AEW exports.
Maj Gen Craig Rasmussen, of the US Office of Defence Co-operation-Turkey, says talks have just opened and the parties are "working" the issue. "Configuration of the aircraft has not changed," he says. Despite the concerns and Turkey's recent economic difficulties, the Department of Defense aims to finalise talks by the third quarter of this year.
Similar problems are hampering Turkey's efforts to equip its F-16 Block 50s with a Thales EW suite. Atay says the "interoperability guidelines" are not being supplied to Thales for integration on to the F-16, adding: "We've waited a long time for US approval to integrate the system and this has created disappointment on our side. This policy will badly effect the F-16 modernisation."
Turkey, meanwhile, says it does not have enough "insight into the Joint Strike Fighter" to decide on joining the programme, though it has opened first-round negotiations with the JSF Programme Office to join as a level-two participant, which would require an investment of up to $1 billion.
Source: Flight International
