Source: Associated Press; Cougar
helicopter production project to be completed in february; Feb, 2003
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)
successfully carries out the production of Cougar AS-532 helicopters. The
project will be completed in February by the delivery of the last
helicopter at the end of the month. All the helicopters which were produced
in TAI were handed over to the concerned force commands after they were
tested.
Within the scope of the project which
started in the year 1997, 28 helicopters were produced. Under the EUROTAI
consortium, Eurocopter of France and TAI had decided to co-produce the 30
Cougar AS-532 General Purpose, Search and Rescue and Armed Search and
Rescue helicopters (10 for the Turkish Land Force and 20 for Turkish Air
Force) required by the Turkish Armed Forces. The first two helicopters were
manufactured at the Eurocopter facilities in France, whereas the remaining
28 are being produced at TAI facilities in Ankara.
