Turkey has taken another step towards cutting all ties with Israel, this time suspending a lucrative contract with Elbit and IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) for the Heron unmanned surveillance aircraft.

In March YWN-ISRAEL reported that six of the aircraft were delivered as part of a $185 million deal.

Since the recent unprecedented breakdown in relations between Jerusalem and Turkey, Israel has recalled air force officers training their Turkish counterparts on the craft.

According to a report appearing in the Turkish Zaman newspaper, Turkey has now decided to use its locally manufactured pilotless craft and to suspend orders pending with Israel, explaining the shipment that arrived to date was unsatisfactory, with experts stating the planes did not achieve the altitude or flight times as stipulated in the contract.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)