×
Identified Non-Flying Objects
Paylaş
LinkedinFlipboardLinki KopyalaYazı Tipi
The Israeli-made unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, or as they are publicly known, ’spy’ planes, have eventually arrived at the Turkish barracks after delays longer than a year. But there is a minor problem: They are not the aircraft the Israelis had promised to deliver.
During the two-way competition for the UAV contract, Turkish defense procurement authorities had insisted that (a) a Turkish defense company, Aselsan, should produce the critical pod for the UAVs, (b) the aircraft should be able to fly at an altitude of 30,000 feet, (c) they should be able to fly for 24 hours without having to land, and (d) the foreign contractor should provide warranties for the successful integration of the Turkish-made pod.
One of the competitors, U.S. General Atomics, withdrew, warning that it was practically impossible for any sensible bidder to agree to and meet the contract specifications. The other contender, a team of Israeli Aircraft Industries and Elbit, another Israeli company, won the contract after it gave full assurances to comply with all contract specifications.
Unfortunately, the Turkish engineering failed, and Aselsan’s pod was too big and heavy to fly on the Israeli aircraft, the Heron. Aselsan’s pod did not fit well into the Heron, so the Heron had to be modified, especially its engine. Eventually, two Herons which are not Herons arrived in Turkey, were stationed in a military base in Batman, but neither the air force, their end-user, nor the procurement quality control team has cleared their performance: They do not fly at the desired altitude, nor can they fly long enough.
What happens when the supplier fails to supply a product at the quality specified in the contract? The buyer rejects it. According to the General Staff, "acceptance tests are continuing." What does that mean? If the acceptance tests are continuing why have the aircraft been "received" before these tests have been completed with a seal of approval? Why have the aircraft been "received" by the other Turkish sub-contractor, TAI, oddly, instead of by the procurement office, or the air force?
We can always ignore the delays. Murad Bayar, Turkey’s chief defense procurement official, said in January that the Herons would arrive in the weeks ahead. He was right. The Herons arrived about 40 weeks after Mr Bayar said "weeks." True, there is going to be $8 million penalty for the delays. That could have been relieving, if an unknown part of the penalty would not have to be accrued to the Turkish sub-contractors, Aselsan and TAI.
Complicated? Yes, most defense contracts are complicated in this country of complications. But what will happen now? In a country where things are much less "complicated" and transparent, the Herons would have been returned to sender, the manufacturer would have been given a deterrent penalty and banned from future contracts. In Turkey, the chances that all or some of these will happen are just too slim.
"Strange" things about defense contracts can always happen. And both IAI and Elbit have extremely "talented" local agents in Turkey. So I have every confidence that the Herons will suddenly upgrade themselves while being kept in a hangar. They might soon start to fly at an altitude of 45,000 feet and for 72 hours non-stop. And they will probably pass the acceptance tests.
The only trouble is, the "Heron affair" has become too public, and any civilian or military official who might give the final go-ahead without the Herons miraculously upgrading themselves may end up facing trial and has to explain what patriotic motives had urged them to tolerate a clear breach of contract specifications. But readers are advised to ignore this paragraph as it was written on a moment of illusion that we all were living in another country.
No one will face trial for "accepting" the three other Israeli-made UAVs, the Aerostars, leased to the Turkish military for $17 million because the Herons were delayed. The Aerostars, like the Herons, were intended to be used against Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, targets. They arrived on time, but with a small problem: Their engines were too noisy that the PKK teams were able to hear them from a distance of 20 kilometers and run, or rather stroll, away into their hideouts possibly while puffing their cigarettes and whistling songs.
A perfectly suitable ending to the "Heron affair" could be scrapping the present contract and awarding a new contract to the same Israeli team which, this time, should promise to deliver new UAVs which can also be used as fighter jets, submarines and tanks. But of course, the price tag will be much higher this time and it will take longer to manufacture.
One of the competitors, U.S. General Atomics, withdrew, warning that it was practically impossible for any sensible bidder to agree to and meet the contract specifications. The other contender, a team of Israeli Aircraft Industries and Elbit, another Israeli company, won the contract after it gave full assurances to comply with all contract specifications.
Unfortunately, the Turkish engineering failed, and Aselsan’s pod was too big and heavy to fly on the Israeli aircraft, the Heron. Aselsan’s pod did not fit well into the Heron, so the Heron had to be modified, especially its engine. Eventually, two Herons which are not Herons arrived in Turkey, were stationed in a military base in Batman, but neither the air force, their end-user, nor the procurement quality control team has cleared their performance: They do not fly at the desired altitude, nor can they fly long enough.
What happens when the supplier fails to supply a product at the quality specified in the contract? The buyer rejects it. According to the General Staff, "acceptance tests are continuing." What does that mean? If the acceptance tests are continuing why have the aircraft been "received" before these tests have been completed with a seal of approval? Why have the aircraft been "received" by the other Turkish sub-contractor, TAI, oddly, instead of by the procurement office, or the air force?
We can always ignore the delays. Murad Bayar, Turkey’s chief defense procurement official, said in January that the Herons would arrive in the weeks ahead. He was right. The Herons arrived about 40 weeks after Mr Bayar said "weeks." True, there is going to be $8 million penalty for the delays. That could have been relieving, if an unknown part of the penalty would not have to be accrued to the Turkish sub-contractors, Aselsan and TAI.
Complicated? Yes, most defense contracts are complicated in this country of complications. But what will happen now? In a country where things are much less "complicated" and transparent, the Herons would have been returned to sender, the manufacturer would have been given a deterrent penalty and banned from future contracts. In Turkey, the chances that all or some of these will happen are just too slim.
"Strange" things about defense contracts can always happen. And both IAI and Elbit have extremely "talented" local agents in Turkey. So I have every confidence that the Herons will suddenly upgrade themselves while being kept in a hangar. They might soon start to fly at an altitude of 45,000 feet and for 72 hours non-stop. And they will probably pass the acceptance tests.
The only trouble is, the "Heron affair" has become too public, and any civilian or military official who might give the final go-ahead without the Herons miraculously upgrading themselves may end up facing trial and has to explain what patriotic motives had urged them to tolerate a clear breach of contract specifications. But readers are advised to ignore this paragraph as it was written on a moment of illusion that we all were living in another country.
No one will face trial for "accepting" the three other Israeli-made UAVs, the Aerostars, leased to the Turkish military for $17 million because the Herons were delayed. The Aerostars, like the Herons, were intended to be used against Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, targets. They arrived on time, but with a small problem: Their engines were too noisy that the PKK teams were able to hear them from a distance of 20 kilometers and run, or rather stroll, away into their hideouts possibly while puffing their cigarettes and whistling songs.
A perfectly suitable ending to the "Heron affair" could be scrapping the present contract and awarding a new contract to the same Israeli team which, this time, should promise to deliver new UAVs which can also be used as fighter jets, submarines and tanks. But of course, the price tag will be much higher this time and it will take longer to manufacture.
Paylaş
LinkedinFlipboardLinki KopyalaYazı Tipi
