M'bishi Heavy Planning Tank Engine Development with Turkey

Tokyo, Nov. 12 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. <7011> is in talks with the Turkish government on joint development of engines for tanks for the Turkish military, it was learned Tuesday. The Japanese manufacturer plans to set up a joint venture with a Turkish company, according to informed sources. The Japanese government is ready to support the move as it is working to strengthen ties with Turkey. Tokyo expects to sign an accord with Turkey that includes a ban on transferring technologies to a third country if it concludes that the joint project does not contravene Japan's three principles on arms exports. Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said at a press conference the same day that the joint development is "one of the issues that should be discussed between Japan and Turkey." In a joint statement issued when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Turkey in May, the two countries called for strengthening defense cooperation. The Turkish government approached Japan about the joint engine development, the sources said. Japan has reached agreements with Britain and France as well as with the United States to study joint development of defense equipment. The similar move with Turkey, which is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and pro-Japan, reflects Tokyo's attempt to revitalize Japan's defense equipment-related industry. END