Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ANKARA2111
2004-04-12 14:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY EAGER TO OPERATIONALIZE SPACE COOPERATION
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002111
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2014
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL ETTC TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY EAGER TO OPERATIONALIZE SPACE COOPERATION
REF: DAO ANKARA 1723 (DTG 231112 MAR 04)
(U) Classified by Pol-Mil Counselor Timothy Betts, reasons
1.4, b/d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002111
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2014
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL ETTC TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY EAGER TO OPERATIONALIZE SPACE COOPERATION
REF: DAO ANKARA 1723 (DTG 231112 MAR 04)
(U) Classified by Pol-Mil Counselor Timothy Betts, reasons
1.4, b/d.
1. (C) Summary: PolMilOff met with Turkish Air Force (TUAF)
Col. Yavuz Goker April 7 to discuss the status of US-Turkey
space cooperation. Goker said the TUAF had decided what it
needed in a space program and was now considering how to get
there. He outlined Turkey's goals in the field of space but
noted that operationalizing the US-Turkey partnership would
be necessary to make the pending US-TU Agreement
"meaningful." End Summary.
2. (C) Turkish Air Force Colonel Yavuz Goker told PolMilOff
April 7 that he was pleased with the progress Turkey had made
in the last three years on enhancing Turkey's space program.
Specifically the GOT had drafted a law establishing a space
agency within the TUAF that was almost ready to go to
Parliament, drafted a National Space Policy, and drafted a
Military Space Concept. GEN Firtina, Commander of the TUAF,
was eager to sign the US-TU Space Agreement, which Goker
understood could complete its congressional notification
process in Washington as early as May 10. Nevertheless, the
GOT understood the agreement was merely a framework for
cooperation and was therefore somewhat disappointed that
there were no operational activities included and very little
assistance from the US promised. Goker said he hoped to
persuade his leadership that the agreement was "worthwhile"
with tangible cooperative projects in the near future.
3. (C) Goker outlined Turkey's priorities in space in the
following order:
-- Optical Camera Remote Sensing -- he noted the GOT could
start by receiving images from US satellites, then graduate
to a cooperative satellite project, then develop its own
domestic capacity;
-- SAR Remote Sensing;
-- X-Band or EHF Communication Satellites (Turkey's current
communications systems are expected to last until 2010, so
this is not a priority until then);
-- Satellite Early Warning Systems.
4. (C) Goker said Turkey's first priority toward achieving
the above capabilities was training. He noted that 3-4
trainees per year for one- to six-month courses would provide
Turkey's fledgling space agency a good foundation. However,
he had recently been informed that the long-term training at
US military institutions in which TUAF was interested was not
available to foreigners. Goker said that if the only US
training available to TUAF was at universities, he didn't see
the need to cooperate with the USG on this, because anyone
could register and attend if they paid the required fees.
Unless the decision was reversed, TUAF would not seek any
training in the US. (Note: The specific courses TUAF wants
are US-only. TUAF has the option of having the courses
tailored to their needs but this option is cost prohibitive.
End Note.)
5. (C) Goker reiterated throughout the meeting that Turkey
was keen to cooperate primarily with the US, although offers
from India, Russia, and Israel (all of which were less
expensive) were also received. He envisioned a Joint Strike
Fighter-type buy-in program in which Turkey could co-develop
and eventually co-use satellites, not to have just one
satellite but to build up its own domestic capabilities over
the long term. Turkey awaited a list of planned US projects
that it might be able to buy in to. Goker hoped that Turkey
would not have to resort to working with countries other than
the US on such projects.
6. (C) Goker said putting a Turkish astronaut in space was a
low priority in the TUAF Military Space Concept Paper. As a
matter of national pride, they had included it as a long-term
goal. They understood from NASA that there would be no space
for a Turkish astronaut until at least 2014, which Goker
believed gave Turkey plenty of time to select and train
Turkish pilots.
7. (C) Comment: Goker is pleased with the progress of
Turkey's space program and realizes that cooperation with any
other country besides the US would be "second tier."
Nevertheless, the TUAF is concerned that the US commitment to
cooperation with Turkey might be flaccid. Proposals for
co-development projects with Turkey would go a long way
toward keeping the Turkish space program firmly in the US
corner.
EDELMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2014
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL ETTC TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY EAGER TO OPERATIONALIZE SPACE COOPERATION
REF: DAO ANKARA 1723 (DTG 231112 MAR 04)
(U) Classified by Pol-Mil Counselor Timothy Betts, reasons
1.4, b/d.
1. (C) Summary: PolMilOff met with Turkish Air Force (TUAF)
Col. Yavuz Goker April 7 to discuss the status of US-Turkey
space cooperation. Goker said the TUAF had decided what it
needed in a space program and was now considering how to get
there. He outlined Turkey's goals in the field of space but
noted that operationalizing the US-Turkey partnership would
be necessary to make the pending US-TU Agreement
"meaningful." End Summary.
2. (C) Turkish Air Force Colonel Yavuz Goker told PolMilOff
April 7 that he was pleased with the progress Turkey had made
in the last three years on enhancing Turkey's space program.
Specifically the GOT had drafted a law establishing a space
agency within the TUAF that was almost ready to go to
Parliament, drafted a National Space Policy, and drafted a
Military Space Concept. GEN Firtina, Commander of the TUAF,
was eager to sign the US-TU Space Agreement, which Goker
understood could complete its congressional notification
process in Washington as early as May 10. Nevertheless, the
GOT understood the agreement was merely a framework for
cooperation and was therefore somewhat disappointed that
there were no operational activities included and very little
assistance from the US promised. Goker said he hoped to
persuade his leadership that the agreement was "worthwhile"
with tangible cooperative projects in the near future.
3. (C) Goker outlined Turkey's priorities in space in the
following order:
-- Optical Camera Remote Sensing -- he noted the GOT could
start by receiving images from US satellites, then graduate
to a cooperative satellite project, then develop its own
domestic capacity;
-- SAR Remote Sensing;
-- X-Band or EHF Communication Satellites (Turkey's current
communications systems are expected to last until 2010, so
this is not a priority until then);
-- Satellite Early Warning Systems.
4. (C) Goker said Turkey's first priority toward achieving
the above capabilities was training. He noted that 3-4
trainees per year for one- to six-month courses would provide
Turkey's fledgling space agency a good foundation. However,
he had recently been informed that the long-term training at
US military institutions in which TUAF was interested was not
available to foreigners. Goker said that if the only US
training available to TUAF was at universities, he didn't see
the need to cooperate with the USG on this, because anyone
could register and attend if they paid the required fees.
Unless the decision was reversed, TUAF would not seek any
training in the US. (Note: The specific courses TUAF wants
are US-only. TUAF has the option of having the courses
tailored to their needs but this option is cost prohibitive.
End Note.)
5. (C) Goker reiterated throughout the meeting that Turkey
was keen to cooperate primarily with the US, although offers
from India, Russia, and Israel (all of which were less
expensive) were also received. He envisioned a Joint Strike
Fighter-type buy-in program in which Turkey could co-develop
and eventually co-use satellites, not to have just one
satellite but to build up its own domestic capabilities over
the long term. Turkey awaited a list of planned US projects
that it might be able to buy in to. Goker hoped that Turkey
would not have to resort to working with countries other than
the US on such projects.
6. (C) Goker said putting a Turkish astronaut in space was a
low priority in the TUAF Military Space Concept Paper. As a
matter of national pride, they had included it as a long-term
goal. They understood from NASA that there would be no space
for a Turkish astronaut until at least 2014, which Goker
believed gave Turkey plenty of time to select and train
Turkish pilots.
7. (C) Comment: Goker is pleased with the progress of
Turkey's space program and realizes that cooperation with any
other country besides the US would be "second tier."
Nevertheless, the TUAF is concerned that the US commitment to
cooperation with Turkey might be flaccid. Proposals for
co-development projects with Turkey would go a long way
toward keeping the Turkish space program firmly in the US
corner.
EDELMAN