Raytheon chooses Turkey’s Aselsan as key Patriot supplier

A U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air missile is launched during a military exercise, July 20, 2006.

From Umit Enginsoy, Hurriyet:  U.S. missile maker Raytheon has entered into an agreement with Turkey’s top military electronics manufacturer, Aselsan, for the co-development of a major end item for the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System, the U.S. firm has said.

Under the agreement, Raytheon will subcontract to Aselsan the co-development of the antenna mast group for Patriot Configuration-3 systems for the United Arab Emirates, it said in a statement last week.

“Aselsan is Raytheon’s first major trans-Atlantic partner selected to co-develop a Patriot major end item," said Tom Kennedy, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, or IDS, according to the statement. …

A partnership of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, marketing the PAC-3, is competing with Russian, Chinese and European rivals in Turkey’s multibillion-dollar program to buy missile defense systems. Turkey is expected to choose a winner next year. …

Aselsan is Turkey’s largest defense company, with last year’s sales exceeding $500 million.  (photo: Reuters)

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