Cablegate: Request for Dod Participation in Idef 2005

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

071357Z Sep 05

UNCLAS ANKARA 005195

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS TU
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR DOD PARTICIPATION IN IDEF 2005

REF: A. ANKARA 662

B. ANKARA 2024
C. ANKARA 1588

1. (U) This report contains sensitive Business Information;
please protect accordingly.

2. (U) Post understands that Turkey's Minister of National
Defense Vecdi Gonul has invited Secretary Rumsfeld and two US
officials of his choice to participate in IDEF 2005, the 7th
International Defense Industry, Aerospace and Maritime Fair.
IDEF, a bi-annual event, will take place this year in Ankara
from September 27-30. As noted in reftel a, Post strongly
encourages high-level participation at this event, which is
one of the largest defense fairs in the region and which will
provide a showcase for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF, F-36)
and U.S. defense equipment.

3. (U) Companies from 43 countries will participate in IDEF
2005. Falling just days before the Oct. 3 start of Turkey's
EU accession negotiations, IDEF will provide a forum to
display and demonstrate systems that showcase superior U.S.
technology and interoperability. Nineteen US firms will
participate, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky,
Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. Lockheed Martin plans to
demonstrate a JSF cockpit simulator.

4. (SBU) Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries
(SSM - Savunma Sanayi Mustesarligi) has twice extended the
bid submission deadline for an Attack Helicopter tender
issued in Feb. 2005 due to significant concerns by potential
bidders over the contract terms and conditions (reftels b and
c). Despite several contract revisions, Boeing, the sole US
firm considering participation, remains unconvinced that the
changes go far enough to allow the company to bid, although
they have not yet informed SSM of this. Turkish defense
industry insiders tell us that the Russian and South African
firms which had considered participation also have
significant reservations, and Italy's Agusta recently
requested a deadline extension. IDEF provides an opportunity
for the US to remind Turkey that superior US technology can
be theirs through the Foreign Military Sales program, saving
Turkey wasted time in contract revisions and deadline
extensions and ensuring Turkey's US and NATO interoperability
well into the future.
MCELDOWNEY

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