Officials said Turkey has obtained U.S. permission to acquire two
advanced attack helicopters to enhance Ankara's air campaign against the
Kurdish Workers Party. They said the Turkish military hopes the U.S.
helicopters would arrive in Ankara by 2011.
"We are requiring an earlier delivery, ideally, this year," Turkish
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said.
On June 30, Gonul reported the Turkish order of two AH-1W Super Cobra
attack helicopters from the United States. He said Congress has approved the
sale, and aircraft delivery arrangements have already begun.
"The process for the delivery is working," Gonul said.
Officials said the helicopters could be taken from U.S. military
surplus and upgraded by manufacturer Bell Helicopter Textron. Turkey has
been operating six AH-1Ws and has sought another dozen since 2007.
At the same time, Ankara has been
working to co-produce 50 T-129 attack helicopters in a project
with AgustaWestland. The first T-129s were expected to arrive in 2014.
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