Is Turkey Paying For Chinese Missiles With UAV Tech Ban?

Uncle Sam appears to be in payback mode after it prevented an American company from exporting camera systems and laser pointers to Turkey.

Turkish company Vestel had sought to acquire the technology from WestCAM Solutions for its newly developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Karayel.

In 2011, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) tasked Vestel with developing new UAVs, and the company is expected to deliver the Karayel in July 2014.

The US also canceled the delivery of Predator drones to Turkey this year.

America’s apparent disapproval for Turkey may quite possibly stem from the latter’s decision to buy Chinese missile systems instead of US-made missiles.

The export cancellation could be a major setback to Turkey’s efforts to arm its first domestically developed UAV, the Anka.

Sources at the Turkish Defense Ministry who requested anonymity told Today's Zaman that Turkey has the capacity to produce its own technology, hinting that Turkey may start efforts to produce the laser pointers it needs domestically.

The tactical UAV system Vestel has been developing consists of six aircraft, three ground control stations and one launching pad. The Karayel UAVs will be able to reach altitudes up to 18,000 feet and carry up to 35 kilograms. The Karayel will be able to stay in the air for 10 hours of uninterrupted flight, Today’s Zaman said.