ISRAEL TO SHIP NEWEST HERONS TO TURKEY IN 2010

ANKARA (A.A) - 25.11.2009 - Israel will deliver 10 advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, to Turkey in the first quarter of 2010.
A.A. correspondent was told that the matter was assessed during the formal talks of Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Binyamin "Fuad" Ben Eliezer in Ankara.
The parties do not have disagreements, except for a few details, on aerial vehicles known as Heron, which have not yet been delivered.
Israel successfully equipped the Heron with all performance criteria regarding altitude and endurance asked by Turkey.
Following modifications to the engines, Heron TP can operate at a distance of more than 10,000 meters. Israel fully met conditions of the contracts related to the new engine.
In case of any disagreement, either Turkey or Israel may ask for international arbitration.
Turkey signed deal with Israeli Aerospace Industry (IAI) and Elbit in 2005 to buy 10 Heron UAVs for over 180 million USD. However, Israeli firm missed the deadline for delivery. Thus, Turkey accelerated manufacturing of its own UAVs.
Officials said efforts are underway on projects to enhance abilities of Turkish UAVs that will be included in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces next year or the beginning of 2011 the latest.
Turkish-made UAVs will be able to take pictures from 10 kilometers high.