September 28, 1999

Turkey has finally signed a deal with Britain to co-produce the Rapier-Mk2B anti-aircraft missile. (The Turks will borrow 41 older Mk2 missiles as an interim measure.) The two countries will each produce some of the components and then combine them. Britain wants 1,500 missiles for the Army and Royal Air Force; Turkey wants 840 for the Army and Air Force.--Stephen V Cole