The Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche helicopter has been pulled from the $3 billion competition to supply Turkey with more than 100 advanced attack helicopters. The company says that the Comanche is no longer a contender as it will not be in production in time to meet Turkey's procurement schedule. Boeing is still in the race, however, because the AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopter remains under consideration. Earlier this year, US helicopter makers were granted permission to enter the contest. In 1996, political controversy scuttled Bell Helicopter's planned sale of ten additional AH-1W SuperCobras to Turkey, worth $110 million.

Source: Flight International