Turkey in Talks with Eurosam for Air Defense Deal

Turkey has announced that Ankara opened talks with French-Italian Eurosam Eurosam, maker of the Aster 30, to build a long-range air- and anti-missile system, distancing itself from a Chinese option, after negotiations on a controversial deal with a US-blacklisted Chinese company.
Technical negotiations with China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corp. (CPMIEC) have been dragged into several problematic areas.
In September 2013, Turkey announced CPMIEC would construct the country’s first long-range air and anti-missile defense system.
The Chinese contender defeated a US Patriot air defense system; Russia’s Rosoboronexport S-300; and Italian-French consortium Eurosam, maker of the Aster 30.
Turkish officials said if contract negotiations with CPMIEC fail, talks would be opened with the second-place finisher, Eurosam. Next in line would be the US bidder. The Russian option has been eliminated.
The Turkish government has come under increased pressure from its NATO allies to rethink the decision to work with CPMIEC in the missile defense program.
The Turkish program consists of radar, launcher and interceptor missiles. It has been designed to counter enemy aircraft and missiles.
NATO and US officials have said any Chinese-built system could not be integrated with Turkey’s joint air defense assets with NATO and the United States.
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