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Turkey's top government and military authorities will meet Tuesday to select and announce the winner of a $4 billion contract for the co-production of 109 utility helicopters, a senior procurement official said Friday.

Turkey's top decision-making body for procurement, The Defense Industry Executive Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will convene to choose between the United States’ Sikorsky Aircraft and Italy's AgustaWestland.

Sikorsky is offering its T-70, the Turkish version of its S-70 Black Hawk International, which is presently being used by the militaries of dozens of countries, including Turkey. AgustaWestland is competing with its TUHP 149, the Turkish version of its newly developed A-149.

"The event will have only one agenda item: the selection of Turkey's new utility helicopter type," the procurement official said.
The first batch will be for 109 utility helicopters, but with follow-on orders, more than 300 platforms are expected to be built with a price tag of over $10 billion, according to defense analysts.

The Turkish decision comes at the end of a final round of talks with the two competing companies.

"The two offers will be judged in accordance with their final prices and commercial benefits for the Turkish industry involved in the program," said the procurement official.

Sikorsky Aircraft and AgustaWestland have so far announced benefit packages worth billions of dollars each.

Several Turkish companies, most notably Turkish Aerospace Industries, or TAI, will take part in the joint production of the platforms.

In addition to Erdoğan, the Defense Industry Executive Committee's other members include Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül, Chief of General Staff General Isık Koşaner and Turkey's top procurement official, Murad Bayar.

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Déjà vu all over again...

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Turkey's top procurement body has once again delayed a much-expected, multibillion-dollar decision planned for Tuesday to select between an U.S. company and an Italian firm to lead the production of Turkey's next generation of military utility helicopters.

The key reason is Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ongoing visit to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.

The members of the Defense Industry Executive Committee, the top procurement body, are Erdoğan, Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner and procurement chief Murad Bayar.
One procurement official said now the decision is expected to be announced toward the end of next week.

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Crew members at RAF Valley in Anglesey, where the Prince works as a search and rescue (SAR) pilot, praised him for his progress and said all 27 members of C Flight 22 had been invited to the wedding, along with their partners.

Flight Commander Iain ''Spike'' Wright, William's line manager, said he was ''dumbfounded'' when he realised he had been invited.

''I didn't expect it. It's a great honour. Then I relaxed and thought 'This is actually going to be quite good fun'.''

Flt Cdr Wright, 42, who is originally from Plymouth, added: ''The vast majority of us are going with our partners.''

Flight Lieutenant Thomas ''Sticky'' Bunn, 38, said: ''First of all I couldn't believe it. My wife certainly couldn't. When that envelope drops through the door with a Buckingham Palace stamp on it, it's not something you see every day.''

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The former Royal Navy flagship and icon of the Falklands War, HMS Invincible, has arrived at the Turkish port where she is due to be scrapped. She could eventually be recycled into girders for buildings, bridge cables, chairs or even razor blades.

Half a million people turned out to welcome Invincible on her return from the Falklands in 1982, including the Queen who was in attendance as head of the Armed Forces as well as being a proud mother who's son, Prince Andrew, was serving aboard as a helicopter pilot.

When Invincible departed Portsmouth on her final voyage, less than 50 people turned out at the quayside to see her off. The Royal Navy made no announcement of her farewell and did not even lay on a piper.

It fell to a lone standard-bearer from the Royal British Legion and a handful of well wishers to pay tribute.

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Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says the Prime Minister's use of an Air Force Iroquois helicopter on Saturday was appropriate and perfectly reasonable.

Mr Key was flown from Auckland to Hamilton and back, so he could attend both the V8s racing and a golf club dinner.

The Labour and Green parties have labelled the trip extravagant and disgraceful.

Dr Mapp says when Mr Key has accepted an invitation it is important he show up and he disagrees with criticism of the use of the Iroquois.
He told Morning Report the Prime Minister often has to be in different places within a short time and it is perfectly reasonable that he would use an Iroquois, as have previous Prime Ministers.

Labour's associate finance spokesperson, Trevor Mallard, says using a helicopter was slower than using a car in this instance, and even if there was extra time involved it was an expensive exercise and one which should not be happening.

The Air Force has confirmed Mr Key has used the helicopters four times since 31 March.

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An RAF pilot who managed to land his Chinook helicopter carrying injured troops after being shot in the head in Afghanistan was honoured at Buckingham Palace.

Flight Lieutenant Ian Fortune was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing injured troops under fire and while injured himself.

Prince Charles spoke to the pilot about his lucky escape and was enthralled by his "most excellent story".

After getting his award Flt Lt Fortune said: "It feels tremendous. The hairs on the back of my neck are still standing up. I feel very proud.

"The Prince of Wales asked me how I managed it all and I said I didn't really know."

In January 2010, the 29-year-old pilot had taken off from Garmsir in Helmand province with six wounded soldiers on board when his Chinook came under fire from Taliban militants.

One bullet came through the windscreen and shattered his helmet visor but was deflected by his night vision goggles.

Flt Lt Fortune recalled: "When I twigged that I had been hit with a bullet and that I was okay, it was a pretty amazing feeling.

"If it hadn't been for that bit of metal (on my goggles), I might not have been here today."

Despite his injuries the pilot managed to get his damaged helicopter back to base. All the wounded soldiers on board survived.

Flt Lt Fortune said: "The main sense of achievement as a result of getting those casualties back, and what we achieved as a crew, will stay with me for the rest of my life, I think."

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