The local Netas-Northern Elekttrik Telekomunikasyon (Netas) has been awarded a $90 million, five-year contract by the military to supply an identification friend or foe (IFF) system. Netas, won the order in competition with France's Thomson CSF, according to industry sources.

The company, in which Canada's Northern Telecom has a 52 per cent stake, will produce the system under licence from the US' Hazeltine, and install it at military bases countrywide. This will be the first time the joint venture has manufactured such equipment.

Netas is also among the companies expected to bid by 22 December for the Turkish Armed Forces integrated Communications System. This is the second time bids have been called for the project, valued at about $350 million.