TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY COMMITTEE DUE TO DECIDE ON TENDER TO BUILD ATTACK HELICOPTERS, 2000-07-21 (photo)

Turkish defence industry executive committee, made up of the prime minister, leading ministers and military top brass, is expected to decide on a tender of a multi-billion-dollar contract to build 145 attack helicopters in Ankara July 21. Three consortia led by Italy's Agusta, Bell Helicopter Textron of the United States and Kamov-A of Russia alongside Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) are competing to win the contract, estimated to be worth some $4.5 billion. Combo picture shows (top to bottom) U.S. King Cobra, Italian Mangusta A1291Int and Rusian-Israeli joint helicopter Erdogan (Kamov-A). Ankara says the powerful aircraft, equipped with anti-tank rockets and bristling with rapid-firing heavy machine-guns, are necessary to face potentially hostile neighbours in one of the world's most unstable regions. FS/WS