WordBulletin

World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey has demanded an extra Sikorsky S-70B from the American company Sikorsky Aircraft for not delivering previously ordered choppers on time.

The Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) had previously ordered 24 Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk medium transport/utility helicopters from the US-based aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft in 2005. Sikorsky had delivered seven of the ordered helicopters but was not able deliver the remaining 17 choppers on time despite the fact that they had already been paid for by Turkey.

For the first time in history, Turkey has demanded one more Sikorsky S-70B helicopter from the company as a fine for not delivering the helicopters on time, a Ministry of Defense official told Cihan news agency, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

In this way, Turkey will receive 25 helicopters for the price of 24. Experts from the Ministry of Defense underlined this is the first time that Turkey has fined a US company. “Turkey's position gets stronger over time,” the same source said.

The SSM had ordered the helicopters for the Turkish Naval Forces. Seven of the preordered choppers have been delivered so far, but the remaining 17 were supposed to be delivered to Turkey at the beginning of 2010. Sikorsky announced that there would be a three-month delay in the deliveries but still they were not able to deliver the choppers. For the first time the Ministry of Defense demanded one more chopper as a fine from the US-based company for not delivering an order on time. Even though the American Sikorsky was not eager to accept this demand, after much negotiation they agreed to give one more Sikorsky S-70B type helicopter.