Boeing slips Turkish AEW&C delivery, but nears Chinook deal

Turkish air force 737 AEW&C, APG Photography

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12/05/11 By Tolga Ozbek Flight International

Boeing has again slipped its delivery schedule for the Turkish air force's 737-based airborne early warning and control system aircraft, with the first example now due to be handed over by the end of 2012.

Confirming the fresh delay to the Peace Eagle project at the IDEF show in Istanbul, Greg Pepin, vice-president of Boeing Turkey, said: "We want to reach 100% of the Turkish air force's needs. We are late but focus on the needs of the air force."

Boeing is still in talks with Turkey's undersecretary of defence industries (SSM) about penalties linked to the late delivery of the AEW&C fleet. The company has not given "any extra invoice to the project" with the new slip, Pepin said.

Turkey's first aircraft is in Seattle, Washington, with the other three at a Turkish Aerospace Industries site in Ankara. One will be delivered in late 2012, with the remainder to follow in 2013.

Meanwhile, Pepin said Boeing and the SSM are discussing the details of a proposed sale of 10 CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters.

"In a few weeks, the contract will be signed," he said. "The first delivery will be after 36 months."

Ankara had previously requested a possible 14-aircraft CH-47F deal via the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency worth a potential $1.2 billion.