Turkey's Aselsan inks $44M comms deal with Ukraine

By Gokhan Ergocun

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's leading defense company has signed a multi-million-dollar contract in Ukraine to supply communications systems, the firm said on Tuesday.

The contract for communications systems is worth $43.6 million, Aselsan said in a statement.

Deliveries under the agreement will be made in 2018, Aselsan added.

During a visit by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman to Turkey in March, a memorandum of understanding between the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) and the Ukrainian state industrial enterprise Ukroboronprom, was signed.

It was during the visit that Ukrainian state foreign trade enterprise Spets Techno Export was confirmed as the other partner in the Aselsan deal.

Another memorandum of understanding was signed between SSM and Ukroboronprom for the "development and production of aircraft and composite materials" at the 13th International Defense Industry Fair in May this year.

Turkish defense manufacturer Havelsan also signed a memorandum on joint radar production and development with Ukroboronprom in April.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Ukraine on Monday where he said discussions on improving business co-operation in military relations and defense industries had taken place.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said they enhanced their business alliance in the defense industry, aviation and space fields.

Turkish National Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli and Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak signed a cooperation protocol on Monday.

Turkey's Defense Industry Undersecretary Ismail Demir and Ukroboronprom Deputy Director General Volodymyr Kostrytskyy also signed an action plan, the same day.