IMI negotiating tank enhancement deal with Turkish company
Israeli Military Industry has been operating in Turkey for nearly decade. Tank deal uncertain due to political tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara
Despite political tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara, the Israeli Military Industry is currently negotiating a contact for the enhancement of dozens of tanks with the Turkish Ascension company. The companies had previous business collaborations.
The tanks are not intended to be used by the Turkish army and are slated to be transferred to a third country after being enhanced.
However, it remains unclear whether the deal will follow through, in the wake of tensions between Israel and Turkey, which according to foreign sources, resulted in an Israeli decision to freeze almost completely its defense export to Turkey.
Recent tensions have led the defense system in Israel to review several Turkish applications for defense purchases and puts at question several export deals which amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. The Israeli industries are in danger of suffering a major blow should the deals be dropped.
Among the prospective transactions: Export of an anti-missile system, sale of drones and armored personnel carriers.
Turkish elements have expressed interest in Israeli electronic warfare systems for ground forces, as well as in aircraft-mounted intelligence collection systems.
Israeli companies such as Elbit and Elta are already providing Turkey with fighter jet intelligence systems in a $141 million deal. It remains unclear whether a follow-up deal will be signed.
