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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Turkey Extends Deadline for Disputed Air Defense Bidding

US and European bidders racing to snatch a controversial Turkish contract from their Chinese rival now have until June 30 to submit their renewed proposals, following two three-month extensions instituted by Turkey.
After the previous extension, the bidders had until the end of April to submit bids for Turkey’s first long-range air- and anti-missile defense system, for which it initially selected a Chinese manufacturer.
The bidders comprise a partnership of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, makers of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 system, and the European group Eurosam, maker of the Aster 30 missile.
In September, Turkey said it selected China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corp. (CPMIEC) to build the system.
Turkey has been in contract negotiations with CPMIEC, but under increasing pressure from its NATO allies, it also has urged rival US and European bidders to improve their offers.
Turkey said in September that Eurosam’s offer ranked second while the US solution came third. The fourth bidder, the Russian maker of the S-300/400, was eliminated from the contest.
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Italy Plans €6B Ship Buy

The Italian Navy has secured funding for 10 large ships it plans to build rapidly over the next decade as the bulk of the current fleet goes out of service.
Italy’s 2014 state budget, approved in late December, contains a €5.8 billion funding package for the new vessels, mainly a new multipurpose ship conceived by Navy planners to fight wars as well as handle humanitarian relief operations.
The work will likely go to Italian shipyard Fincantieri.
Construction of the first vessel would take two years, with a launch in three, delivery in four and entry into service in five years.
The amphibious ship would replace one of three aging landing platform dock vessels and make good on a procurement plan for such a vessel that has been on standby for a number of years.
The Navt needs the new ships to be finalized as soon as possible, since 50 of the Navy’s 60 vessels will go out of service in the next decade.
The Navy received a large amount of funds for fleet renewal in the 1970s, it is no coincidence that many ships are heading out of service around the same time, making a second round of large investment essential.
The baseline design offers two cannons — a 127mm gun in the bow and a 76mm gun at the stern — along with a hangar for two NH90 helicopters, the option of carrying containers or small boats on deck, and a varying number of launch cells for the Aster 30 missile. Some of the vessels could mount the Scalp Naval missile, or the Tomahawk cruise missile.
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Italy Plans To Use Aster Against Ballistic Missiles

The Italian Army — as it readies its new Aster missile-based air defense capability — says it is looking to give the system a role in knocking out tactical ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.

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