Turkey has already bought 50 Popeye I missiles for its
fleet of F-4s currently being upgraded at Israel Aircraft
Industries. But the new deal would involve a consortium
to be established between two Turkish firms and Rafael to
jointly produce the Popeye II, a smaller missile, but
with more advanced technology.

News of the deal comes just two weeks after the visit
here by Turkey's Defense Minister Turhan Tayan followed
by a visit of Turkey's deputy chief of staff Gen. Chevik
Bir and 23 top military officials.

"In every one of their visits to the military industries
we presented the Popeye missile and they were impressed,"
said Noah Shahar, spokesman for Rafael. "The first stage
of the project was to sell the Turks the Popeye I for
their F-4s being upgraded. And there is an understanding
with two Turkish firms to continue the production of the
Popeye II jointly." The Popeye II is designed for
deployment on fighter aircraft and has a range of 150
kilometers. Reports from Turkey said it is expected to be
delivered by the year 2000.

The home-grown, highly-accurate Popeye missiles were
developed based on the combat experience of the IAF and
have been operational since the late 1980s. Israel has
marketed the missile abroad and Rafael and Lockheed
Martin have already cooperated to produce the 3,000-pound
AGM-142, virtually identical to the Popeye I, for the US
Air Force. They are also involved in a joint venture to
produce the Popeye II, also known as the Have Lite.

Officials involved with the joint venture with Turkey
said it was worth about $100m.

Rafael has sold the Popeye to Australia and is currently
negotiating a deal to supply them to South Korea as well.
Reports from Britain said that the UK Ministry of Defense
is also interested in the Popeye missile, as well as the
Arrow anti-ballistic missile interceptor.