Turkish Drones Idle After Israeli Staff Leaves

[youngindian]

Published: 14 Jun 2010 16:36

ANKARA - The six Israeli-made Heron UAVs stationed at an air base near Turkey's Iraqi and Iranian borders have ceased flying since Israeli operators left the base amid Turkish-Israeli tensions.

The state-run Anatolia News Agency quoted Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul as telling a conference in the eastern town of Erzurum that Turkish personnel would soon take over the task of operating the Herons, which are positioned at the base to aid the military's fight against Kurdish separatists."I don't think there would be any disruptions," Gonul said. "Our personnel were trained in Israel and worked there. After the aircraft arrived, they worked [operating the UAVs] in Turkey, too."

But one military official said that the drones currently were not operational.

"We don't know exactly how soon they would become so," he said. He did not give any further details.

Turkey and Israel are facing their worst political crisis since they formed their strategic partnership in the mid-1990s. The crisis erupted May 31 when Israeli commandos raided a Turkish-led aid flotilla bound for the Palestinian Gaza Strip, killing nine Turks on board one of the ships. Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and sought a U.N. Security Council presidential statement that criticized the attack. Ankara also wants compensation and a full independent probe into the incident, which Israel has so far rejected.

Under a $188 million, 2005 deal with Israeli companies Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit, Turkey received the six Herons in April, and another four are scheduled to be delivered in July. The program was delayed by more than two years.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4669640&c=EUR&s=TOP

 

[youngindian]

Israeli Defense Giant IAI Recalls Turkey Staff

Published: 15 Jun 2010

JERUSALEM - Israel Aircraft Industries has recalled its staff from Turkey over security concerns after the deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, a company official confirmed June 15.

"We have recalled our employees - it's because of the situation at the moment, after the flotilla incident," the IAI official said on the condition of anonymity."All Israelis involved in the defense industry have been asked to leave Turkey for security reasons because tensions with Turkey are high at the moment," she said, without specifying the number of employees.

Israeli navy seals raided Gaza-bound aid fleet on May 31, killing nine Turkish nationals when clashes broke out on the deck of one of the ships, severely damaging the once-close ties between the two countries.

Among those employees brought back to Israel were believed to be specialists who had been training the Turkish military on how to use Israeli-made drones.

But the official stressed the measure was "just a temporary move" and insisted Israel's contract to supply Turkey with 10 Heron drones was still going ahead, contrary to Turkish media reports.

"It's business as usual - we have not heard anything about the contract being canceled," she said.

Elbit Systems, another major Israeli defense firm involved in the drone agreement, refused to confirm reports it had withdrawn all staff from Turkey, but a company source insisted the deal was still going ahead.

The two countries had been due to complete a multi-million-dollar deal inked in 2005 for the delivery of 10 drone aircraft for the Turkish air force.

So far, Israel has delivered eight of the 10 drones amid repeated delays for both technical and diplomatic reasons.

The contract was part of a $185 million (150 million euro) project involving the manufacture of 10 aircraft, surveillance equipment and ground control stations, with Turkish firms providing sub-systems and services.

Turkey and Israel signed a military cooperation deal in 1996, after which ties flourished until last year, when the two fell out after Israel's devastating 22-day war on Hamas-ruled Gaza, aimed at halting rocket attacks.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4670512&c=MID&s=AIR

 

[Rahul Singh]

This was just waiting to happen. I think its a very good move by Israel to show Turkey truth of the day. Interestingly as of today Turkey is almost totally dependent on Israel for meeting its long range surveillance need accomplished by UAVs.

 

[Rahul Singh]

Israel Refuses to Sell Arms to Turkey

by Hana Levi Julian

Israel has declined a request by Turkey to purchase several different military systems, including an anti-tank guided weapon and a missile system for its navy.


The request by the Turkish government was rejected by Israel's SIBAT, the defense assistance and export organization, which is currently reviewing each order on a case-by-case basis.

Turkey said it wanted to buy the Spike non-line-of-site (NLOS) anti-tank guided weapon, the Namer heavy infantry fighting vehicle, and the Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Barak 8 theater-defense missile system for its navy, according to UK-based Jane's Defence Weekly.

Israel did, however, deliver the last of 170 upgraded M60A1 main battle tanks (MBTs) to the Turkish military on April 7 through a joint contract between Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Turkey's Aselsan, shepherded along by Columbia.

The move is seen as a response to Turkey's increasing anti-Israel rhetoric and the pro-Islamic leanings in its foreign and domestic policies.

An Israeli defense official was quoted by the military publication as saying, "Ties with Turkey will never be the way they once were. We are being very careful which systems we sell them, due to the growing Islamic trends in the country."

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan harshly criticized Israel during and following its counter terrorism Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, which ran from December 28, 2008 to January 20, 2009.

Since that time, relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated, a trend reflected in Turkey's decision in October 2009 to bar Israel's Air Force from participating in the joint Anatolian Eagle exercises. Turkey ultimately chose to cancel the drill rather than back down in response to pressure from the United States and Italy, who were also set to participate.

As a result, Israel has also been searching for new air space in which to conduct long-range training exercises, since Turkey has refused the IAF use of its air space. Recently the Defense Ministry has been exploring the possibility of renewing a 2006 agreement to deploy IAF fighter jets in Romania.

 

[SHASH2K2]

Those fools should have waited for at least few more years before showing their true colours to Israel. Earlier Israel refused Barak 2 and now drones are useless. God knows how many of their defence equipments will be useless now. They want to be a big regional player and in order to do so they messed up with Israel which could have been biggest support for them.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Those fools should have waited for at least few more years before showing their true colours to Israel. Earlier Israel refused Barak 2 and now drones are useless. God knows how many of their defence equipments will be useless now. They want to be a big regional player and in order to do so they messed up with Israel which could have been biggest support for them.

This won't end with Israel I am sure USA/NATO will be careful in giving any weapons to Turkey in the future.

 

[Rahul Singh]

True LF and reason is obvious and understandable

We are being very careful which systems we sell them, due to the growing Islamic trends in the country."

ANKARA, Turkey -- The Turkish parliament narrowly approved Friday a series of constitutional amendments that opposition parties say are designed to give the Islamic-rooted government leverage over the largely secular judiciary.

It appears likely the electorate will approve the measures, as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government enjoys strong support.
Link

 

[SHASH2K2]

This is one of best example for "dont count your chickens before they are hatched" . Israel will be having laugh as payment must have been made for weapons .

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Isareli UAV buisness taking a hit first from the Turks and also with the Russians

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Israeli_UAV_deal_with_Russia_stumbles_999.html

 

[SHASH2K2]

Isareli UAV buisness taking a hit first from the Turks and also with the Russians

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Israeli_UAV_deal_with_Russia_stumbles_999.html

this report clearly shows that russians are lacking some critical technologies . today I read it somewhere that they are also looking to import some new armours.Its good that we started import/ technical collaboration with Israel .

 

[LETHALFORCE]

this report clearly shows that russians are lacking some critical technologies . today I read it somewhere that they are also looking to import some new armours.

They are trying to get a Mistral ship with TOT from France.

 

[civfanatic]

Why doesn't Russia just develop its own UAVs?? It's not a very difficult area to pursue, especially not for a country with a very advanced aerospace industry like Russia.

During the 2008 war against Georgia, Russia had to use Tu-22 bombers for recon, which I found ridiculous.

 

[Iamanidiot]

Any body here who interacted with the turkish real time.I have met iranians but never turks how exactly are they in real life.Do they have any shades of pakistani WTF's

 

[Rahul Singh]

this report clearly shows that russians are lacking some critical technologies . today I read it somewhere that they are also looking to import some new armours.

OT
May be Russians want to have good look(meaning reverse engineering obviously) at the western weapons so that they can transform their industry from "cheap and more is best" theory to "less but quality is best" principle.

 

[AirforcePilot]

All I can say is buyer beware ==srew==

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=178440

UAV specialists recalled from Turkey

Israeli defense industries have recalled employees from Turkey amid growing concerns that they could be targeted in retaliation for the botched naval raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla two weeks ago.

During the raid, navy commandos boarded the Turkish passenger ship Mavi Marmara and in ensuing clashes killed nine passengers the IDF identified as mercenaries hired to ambush the boarding soldiers. Israel suspects that the Turkish government was involved in financing the mercenaries.

On Saturday, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems Ltd. recalled teams of engineers and flight instructors who were teaching the Turkish military how to use the Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that had been supplied to Turkey as part of a $180 million deal signed in 2004.

IAI and Elbit were supposed to supply ten UAVs to the Turkish military, but the deal was delayed after the Heron was found to be incompatible with the Turkish-made payloads it was supposed to carry. IAI and Elbit missed the original delivery date but since then have supplied five of the UAVs.


According to a report in the Turkish daily Today's Zaman, in response to the withdrawal of the Israeli teams, the Turkish military has implemented "Plan B" and instead of the Heron drones is now using a Turkish-made drone called IHA, which is manufactured by Bykar.

The IHA, the report said, has a range of 15 kilometers and can fly at altitudes of about 12,000 feet. It is inferior to Israel's Heron, which can fly for up to 50 hours and at altitudes of about 35,000 feet.

IAI and Elbit released a statement claiming that as far as they knew the deal had not been cancelled. The companies said they intended to continue with delivery plans and "business as usual." The companies have already delivered eight of the UAVs to Turkey, and two are currently under production.

If the report that the Turks have cancelled the deal is true, though, it is another indication of the deteriorating ties between Israel and Turkey. Following the flotilla raid, Israel also expects that the trilateral Turkish-US-Israeli Reliant Mermaid search and rescue naval exercise, scheduled for August, will also be cancelled. It has been held annually for the past decade.

 

[SHASH2K2]

All I can say is buyer beware ==srew==

Its buyer who tried to screw the seller . So its sellers who should be Beware .

 

[ahmedsid]

Just goes onto show that an Indigenous Industry is must for any Country. Thank God, India's and Russia's interests never collided, and the relationships between India and Russia are like very rare.

AFAI this wont make the Drones inoperable. Turkish are not Arabs, if they cant figure out how to operate it, they will bring in the folks from elsewhere. I am sure their own people are have undergone training too. And About Israel, well they are very touchy people, just like Arabs in that respect, and Turkey should ve known better when handling with them. God Speed

 

[youngindian]

16 South Florida grads sign up to join Israeli military


http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/16-south-florida-grads-sign-up-to-join-746112.html

 

[civfanatic]

Turkey is a member of NATO and the EU. Even if Israel shuts them off they will have no problem equipping and training their armed forces.