Turkish Navy Receives Fifth P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft as Part of the MELTEM-3 Project
Turkish Naval Forces have received the fifth P-72 maritime patrol aircraft as part of the Turkish Defense Industry Presidency’s (SSB) MELTEM-3 Project. According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, “the fifth of the P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, which adds strength to our Naval Forces and makes significant contributions to the activities in our seas, has also successfully completed its acceptance tests. Congratulations to our Naval Forces”.
Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, President of Turkish Defense Industry, said in a statement on the development, “as the Defense Industry, we are always on duty to protect our national interests in the Blue Homeland. Many systems have been made operational in order to improve the means and capabilities of our Naval Forces. Our fifth P-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft will also be one of the strategic elements of our Naval Forces in the defense of the Blue Homeland. In this context, we intend to provide the necessary support to our Naval Forces Command in the operation and maintenance of the systems by launching a three-year logistic support service for our Maritime Patrol Aircraft mission systems in 2023. With our new platforms, we will continue to strengthen the Turkish Armed Forces.”
The Meltem-III Project contract was signed in July 2012 between Alenia Aermacchi SpA (merged with Leonardo’s Aircraft and Aerostructures Division since 2016) and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), covering the supply of six ATR-72/600 aircraft to the Turkish Navy. The agreement is an amendment to a prior contract for the delivery of 10 ATR-72/500 aircraft to the Turkish Navy that was signed on July 20, 2005 by Alenia and the Turkish Government. The P-72 maritime patrol aircraft, which was supposed to be delivered in 2017, fell behind schedule due to technical issues and delays. The Turkish Naval Air Command received the first P-72 maritime patrol aircraft on December 15, 2020. The second aircraft was delivered on February 27, 2021, the third and fourth aircraft on December 15, 2021, and the fifth aircraft on October 21, 2022. The project’s final aircraft, the sixth, is scheduled to be delivered next year.
TAI is in charge of the detailed parts production, aircraft modification, material supply, ground and flight test support, and integrated logistics support activities of the Meltem-III project, for which Leonardo serves as the prime contractor. ASELSAN provides system/device supply. While the aircraft is outfitted with Milsoft’s Link 11 and Link 16 systems, Havelsan has updated the Marine Patrol Ground Station to support P-72 aircraft. Thales provided mission systems such as radar, ESM, and acoustics on the aircraft. The aircraft in question also had critical systems integrated, including the capacity to launch and carry torpedoes with the MK46 and MK54 models.
With its capabilities for aerial observation, electronic warfare, and anti-submarine warfare in the continental shelf and waters of national interest, which Turkey defines as the “Blue Homeland,” particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean, the maritime patrol aircraft of the Turkish Naval Forces, of which there are currently eleven in inventory, serves as a strategic element of the Turkish Armed Forces. The Turkish Naval Forces will have a total of 12 Maritime Patrol aircraft operational when the final aircraft deliveries under the Meltem-III Project are finished in 2023.