Turkey starts attack copter co-production project with Italia

Turkey yesterday officially started a $3-billion project to produce attack helicopters in association with the Italian company AgustaWestland. A ceremony marking the occassion was held at Turkish Aviation and Space Industry (TAI) headquarters in Ankara, with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and Chief of the General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit in attendance. Speaking at the ceremony Erdogan hailed the project as a major step towards reducing Turkey's dependence on foreign defense industry companies. Erdogan also said that software for the project would be created by Turkish engineers and the helicopters would carry Turkish-made weapons.