Turkey has selected the Sikorski CH-53E heavy-lift helicopter over the Boeing CH-47D and the Russian Mi-26T. The Turks have contracted for eight of the CH-53E helicopters and will pay $345 million for them. The Turks said that while the Mi-26T was offered for $120 million (for eight aircraft) it was regarded as technologically unable to perform the mission. Turkish officials said that the CH-47D was too expensive.--Stephen V Cole
