With the ongoing project under the aegis of the Presidency of Defense Industries, the first P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft entering the service of the Navy will be a force multiplier for the control and protection of the Blue Homeland.
The first P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft in the MELTEM-3 Project carried out by the Presidency of Defense Industries was delivered to the Naval Forces Command with a ceremony.
Procured under the MELTEM-3 Project and entering the inventory of Navy, 6 P-235 Maritime Patrol successfully serve successfully as a strategic element of the Turkish Armed Forces off Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean where Turkey’s continental shelf is bordered.
At this stage of the MELTEM Project, it is expected 6 ATR72-600 are delivered in order to be used in maritime surveillance and patrol and the equipment supplied as part of the MELTEM Project is to be integrated into aircraft.
The first P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, entering the inventory of Naval Forces with a ceremony held, will be a force multiplier for the control and protection of the Blue Homeland across more than 8300 km of coastline.
With the completion of the deliveries under the Project, the number of maritime patrol aircraft will rise to 12.
P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Critical systems such as advanced Radar System, Electronic Support Measures, Audio Signal Processing Systems, Tactical Data Link 11 and 16, MK46 and MK54 Torpedo were integrated on the P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
Through these systems, aircraft will engage in important missions such as antisubmarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, over-the-horizon targeting, search and rescue.
In addition to the new features such as Link 16 system, carrying and launching MK54 torpedo, which are not available in P-235 aircraft, P-72 aircraft will have the ability to operate for longer periods of time.
The delivery of additional 2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and 1 Maritime General Purpose Airplane to the Naval Forces Command is planned to take place by 2021.
Role of indigenous and national industry in the project
Turkish Industry companies assumed a great role as part of the project. TAI completed detail part production, aircraft modification, material supply, ground and flight test support and integrated Logistics.
ASELSAN provided equipment supply. The aircraft have Link 11 and Link 16 systems developed by MİLSOFT. HAVELSAN upgraded The Maritime Patrol Ground Station to support P-72 aircraft.
Presidency of Defense Industries has made many systems ready for service with the aim of enhancing Naval Forces’ capabilities up to date. There are a number of ongoing air, sea, submarine and logistics projects that will reinforce the combat capabilities and logistics field of Naval Forces Command.
Naval Forces Command expects the necessary support in the operation and maintenance of the supplied systems when3-year logistic support service of the mission systems of Maritime Patrol Aircraft is kicked off in 2021.
Vice President of Defense Industries Serdar Demirel, Naval Forces Command Naval Aviation Commander Tuga. Alper Yeniel, Senior Vice President Nadia Steiner on behalf of the prime contractor LEONARDO, and TAI General Manager Temel Kotil, HAVELSAN General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar, ASELSAN Deputy General Manager Bayram Gençcan, MİLSOFT General Manager İsmail Başyiğit and THALES Aircraft Director Levent Taşkın on behalf of the subcontractors attended the ceremony held in Turkish Aerospace.
