ANKARA
Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz said on Thursday that Turkey selected top three bids for the missile defense system but the country was still open to new offers from bidding companies.
"We determined the top three bids. The process has not begun yet. So, all are free to send their last offers" said Yilmaz.
Turkey had chosen a Chinese bidder on September 26 to co-produce long range missile system, a critical component for the country’s defense in the face of heightened danger spilling out of the Syrian civil war.
Immediately after the selection became public, the US and NATO had raised their voice against Chinese firms saying that Chinese system is not interoperable with NATO systems and the selected Chinese company is blacklisted by the US.
Turkey had defended its choice on the ground that Chinese offered the lowest price and co-production with Turkey.
Turkey hopes to finalize the deal within six months.
