Eurocopter Increasing Cooperation with Turkey
Eurocopter’s Public Relations Specialist Thomas Hein said on 2.75” Laser Guided Cirit Missile System that is being manufactured by Roketsan and intended to be integrated into the Eurocopter EC635 helicopter “Cirit added versatility to EC635. We would like to use Cirit in various other platforms of Eurocopter”.
Following the signature of the protocol between Roketsan and Eurocopter at IDEF 2011 for cooperation of the integration of 2.75” laser guided Cirit missile into Eurocopter’s EC635 helicopter platform, Eurocopter’s Public Relations Specialist Thomas Hein made significant remarks on project’s state of affairs at IDEF 2013. Mentioning the fact that they have been in close affiliation with Turkey for 20 years, Hein said that their Project is still underway despite the delays stemming from the financial issues that the South African supplier in charge of the integration of weapons into the Eurocopter’s EC635 helicopter has been going through.
Reine stated that Roketsan is amongst the leader companies in missiles and mentioned that Roketsan’s product Cirit added versatility and variability to EC635 and said “We wish to utilize Cirit on other platforms of Eurocopter namely EC645-T2 helicopters and Tiger helicopters”. Hein also mentioned that Germany and Australia were revising their demands regarding this issue and in case a demand occurs “Cirit” is among the major nominees.
‘Roketsan’s elimination would not mean the end of our cooperation’
Hein underlined the fact that they have been in close cooperation with Roketsan for two years on the integration of Cirit Missiles into Eurocopter’s EC635 helicopters and made important remarks on Eurocopter’s French branch’s tender. Hein conveyed his opinions to Defence Turkey, “I cannot say much regarding this issue. I do not know which firm will be selected however our cooperation with Roketsan will remain in case of this company’s elimination. Within the scope of the tender of Eurocopter’s French branch, all Eurocopter platforms shall use the same 2.75” Laser Guided Missile. Roketsan officials expressed that they presented their offer for the tender and that they hoped to get the result by the last quarter of this year.
Eurocopter’s Plans for Turkey
Hein stated that they were in good relations with Turkey and that Turkey meant a lot to Eurocopter and said that they made talks with the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SGHM). Hein expressed that they were meticulously taking care of SGHM’s helicopter maintenance and added “We are collaborating with the Ministry of Forestry and Ministry of Health as well and we accomplished the sale of 50 helicopters so far”.
Hein also spoke on Eurocopter’s cooperation with TAI, “Our studies for the manufacturing of the engine parts of EC-135 type helicopters with TAI are underway”. Additionally, on Future Transport helicopters they launched with Boeing two years ago, Hein stated that they were in a financial search caused by the budget cuts in Europe and said that bearing Turkey’s demands and TAI’s capacities in mind, they wish to build a partnership with Turkey in the future.
‘We will decrease the noise of the helicopters’
Speaking on Eurocopter’s past and future, Hein stated that Eurocopter recorded a great progress within the last 6 years and noted that the company’s turnover increased from 4.5 to 6.3. Hein mentioned that they wish to invest in simulation as Eurocopter and added “We closed the year 2012 with 469 helicopter orders and we aim to increase this figure to 600-700. We would like to make changes in our product range in future”.
Telling that they aim to decrease the noise stemming from the helicopters that people complain about in their projects, Hein added that they would get more orders as the noise reduces. Hein stated that by consuming less, they aim to reduce the environmental pollution caused by the helicopters. Hein added to his words that the customers could get service from Eurocopter’s service center in Ankara.
